SYNTHETIC WOOL.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1925, Page 3

SYNTHETIC WOOL.

INDUSTRIES IN DANGER. AIKLBOUR.XK. Dee. 2. A giate v. a ruing to Australia of the nei essity for I lie development of research work. uni. only in secondary industries. hut more especially in primary industries, was issued yesterday hv Sir Frank Heath, secretary to the British Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, and secretary to the Advisory Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Sir Frank Heath returned to Alelhounie yesterday after having made investigations in New Smith Wales and Queensland in connect ion with his mission concerning the ‘'rganisation of scientific and industrial research. There was a time, lie said, "hen tlm saying that trade followed the Mag was true, but to-dav I rade followed the knowledge of the scientist, and Australia must wake up to the new order or find herself lett m the race.

After citing tlm instance of how the indigo industry of India vent down before the synthetic article. Sir Frank Heath said that, had the growers consented to the assistance of science, there would still have remained a market for tlm higher grades. Tie then enlarged on I he immense loss sustained hv the silk industry hv Hie production of the artificial goods. Ten years ago. he said, sipli a prediction would ’nave been laughed at. ye! to-day only Ibe very Ugliest grades of natural silk and those prod need by the lowest class of labour, were able to “stand up to |he artificial article. I hese t"o "ere examples of the intrusion ol scion e in primary industries. Sir Frank Heath added that he lim’ been in contact with tin* Wool Council in Sydney. and, among other things, had urged the members to use every endeavour to improve the grade of crossbred wools in order to obtain elasticity of fibre. He had pointed out that hv tltis means, with improved processes now in use. it was possible to improve greatly the class of cloth woven front crossbred wools. In answer to some demur as to the advantage of such a course, ho had staggered his audience by stating that synthetic wool was in the actual course of production. As a matter of fact, there was already a sample in the Sydney l niversity. He would not claim for the artificial article that is possessed every quality oi wool, hut it was near enough to it Lo he a menace to the lower grades. For this reason, having the previous instances cited in view, it was incumbent that every nerve should tie strained to improve the lower grades of wool to an extent that they would 1)0 alile to meet the competition when it fame, as it assuredly would. Tn conclusion. Sir Frank Heath said that it was to Australia’s advantage to faster research in every possible direction. Britain was doing so, hut Australia must help, especially with the problems of her primary industries. Tn that direction site must manufacture her own knowledge—she could not buy it. It was not so much a question of money, hut of brains and endurance: and it was something in which a harvest twice a year could not be expected.