WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 September 1924, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

SOFT (i'OODS .MANUFACTURING

(Special to “Guardian”.) Vi’EI.BI NGTON Sep. Id. There appears to he a general depression in the soft goods maiuifacturiup; industry, and almost every establishment ei loaded in this work has curliiilfd t !;*• tiumlirr c>t employees. A Wellington draper in a hip; way cl business, and who has had to shorten sail in his workroom, when scon on the matter, stated that the depression in the industry was the direct result of a drastic cbanpo in fashion. The Idolise and skirt have ceased to he fashionable and in their place we have knitted poods. The jumper has been extremely fashionable, many thousands of such garments have been knitted by the wearers themselves. The knitted cost lime has enjoyed a great vopne. and one has merely to walk the streets of \Yi llinpton to realise how very popular such costumes arc. Then apain in fabric frocks the loose style is now- favoured, and the fabrics are made tip of line wools, mainly merino wool. There is not a preat deal of fit tinp necessary in respect to such frocks, and most women arc now buyiop ready-to-wear dresses which are extremely well made and beautifully trimmed, ami they have the extra attraction of being very much cheaper than the made-to-order garment. 'I bus it will he seen that fashion is running on lines absolutely against the soil poods manufacturers, who cannot supply in titty volume the class of gttrincuts now lashii nahle. There is a prowinp tendency on the part of both men and women to buy ready-made clothes, which have hoeti brought up to

a wonderful state of perfection sis repnrds style, finish and material, and there are so many sixes and half sizes made that practically every lipurc can he lilted ; at all events such alterations as may he necessary do not add preally to the cost. This is afleetinp tailors and dressmakers, hut particularly the latter. It is doubtful whether an increase ill the customs tarilf will help the local manufacturers: the only tliinp that could help would he a change of fashion. The trend of lashion has been ill the direction of eheapoiiinp i lot liilie as far as possible by makinp the style simple as with the loose frocks. Another peculiar feature i!' t lie moment is the fuel that the demand for lahrie runs mi those made of line wool such as worsteds, comparatively little ol which i- produced in the Dominion. At one time a scrip' costume was the cherished possession of every woman, for it is was a reliable stand-by and thou-ands of such cost limes were sold ill a season ; now it is very rare for a draper to he asked for sueh. Men appear to have discarded twii'ds and worsteds are all the vopne. with a restricted demand lor serpe’ suit'. li is a pity that there is not a prenter demand lor tweeds, especially roupli tweeds made from low I f breds, for stteii a demand would brill'.'; about an improvement in the value ol proasv eross-hreil wool. WOOLFX wool. LACKS.

Wnnibrokei's |,,.re a.'ii'ee with the trad- in liradford Dial hetler wool pm ks I ban Ihe present jute |Tacks would he a desirable ami profitable eluucjc. Wool eolitainiow 5 ( .,,,| call he rie.in, ,| hv enrbeiii in,, nod ,tln r imi

|II t ,0 <I !,,, I'M t, l'\ I■ 111 tin." . 1.1.1 „|„ ~ ml. . I no. •,| II It b w ,„,l II I .Mill oil 1,1 dele, I and pile w ill not lake Ibe d.xe. Il is estimated Hull It 10-ts liradford fully ball a million sterliu,; a year to net rid ol tlie loreipn mixtures in wool, and this could be saved if the el'owers of wool would pile a lit He attention to the paehilm; of their wool. However ii is the jute mixture that is most nlmnxloiis and eostl.x'. and lirndlord has been reenmmolibiiie. a eliaime in the Wool park and mail advices irom llradlord state that il has been decided to proceed on exoerimental lines with the pi'oiluet ion ol wool parks made entirely 1.1 win .I 1,, lie used for the parkin;,; of ~, 1,: 11 i. 1 1 wool. It is re.di-ed that many dillieullies will have to I vereoire. and ex I)e ri mei 1 1 s ol a teebliieal nat'tie will have to he made if satisfactory results are to be obtained. The proidem is to pel a pack made ol wool which will he of sulliiieoi st relict 11. and which will ooi lie rxrrs-.ivc in cost. Tests have heel! made as to the textile st rnipt II of ill ina rv jute packs now in use, with ill" ohieet ol producin', a wool ha;; ol the same strength. A Wool thread is to be used in iiiimeetioo with the wool hap so that there will he no possibility "f st ri lip pettiop into the contents of the haps. It may he necessary also to do away with the hooks in hamllinp wool hales, also with the system of ciittinp open the Imps. It is claimed that a suitable pack made of wool can be produced : if so and the cost is not too preat. prow'ers could he easily induced to '-five the new packs a trial. hitter and preference.

At the tv.ml trade conference m I'liKltord the ether (hiv the New Zea--I;i.id representetive. Sir Themes Maekell/.ie. worked ill Ihe el.l "ll|! ter picference ter New Zealand pre.lilcts eie! Milled thet Britain was apain taking the hulk et Denmark’s Mutter. 'I his metier lies enii-cd lie little amusement among these who here seine ai'ipuimtenee tvilli the hiltter trade. Accerditte te Messrs W. Wed,lei end Co’s eiuniel review of the Deir.v I’rednee trede the iineerts el hntler into the t'nited Kingdom I rem within tie* hmpire ter the veer ell,led dune :i!» leM Wes only tie per cent. ef the total, while the prepertiell Wes :,s high es .V.> per rent ter ;e recently es the veer .1 tllu , ah. 1J122. Cen we eeinphiin with eny shew et iustilieaiion it the Mritisli consumer leeks te ether seiir.es et supply. He lies heeu buying Heiusli mute',. for e lent: time, end because it suits him he is paying a higher pro o f,„. the lleuish product then ter New Zealand. Tim Kmpire is e lone way from I,vine; et.le te supply the llritish market with the I,utter it wants, and it seems foolish to ask ter prelereiuo under the circumstances.