Blankets and Bugs.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 June 1922, Page 4

Blankets and Bugs.

AN AMERICAN DEMAND. The I idled .States docs not produce nearly sufficient wool to meet domestic requirements, and an enormous qnatttit\ of raw wool lias to he imported. Hut the Americans are prepared to lake all-wool blankets and rugs of New Zealand manufacture "provided they are of high grade. The .American Trade Commissioner to Australia and New Zealand, Alr'J. W. Sanger, lias received a Idler from a very large department store in New York, in which the writer says: “We are in a position to pass on a very substantial business over a considerable period of time to any New Zealand mill that can make for us all-wool blankets of a grade and quality, and at a price required hy our customers. Will you he good enough to look into this matter for us.” Here appears an opportunity for opening up tin export trade with tho United States, hut it is doubtful whether any of our woollen mills are capable of dealing with more than a few hundred blankets a year, while no doubt thousands would he wanted. It is also stated that an American firm was willing to place an order for a hundred thousand travelling rugs, for which class of goods New Zealand has a particularly fine reputation, hut the order was not taken up: it was . either too big or the mills would not, or did not, care to run the risk of jeopardising the local trade in a variety of woollen goods. It is considered in some quarters that the New Zealand mills do lint specialise sufficiently. Because they have concentrated on supplying the local market only, they make a variety of articles and fabrics, from blankets and flannels to tweeds and serges, and go further hy making up garments. An export trade for woollen goods, besides blankets and rugs, can be cultivated with tho United States, hut it will require special attention. Perhaps some of the newer woollen companies—and one or two .wore formed during tho past few years—may find it* desirable to concentrate on the export trade.