WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1925, Page 4

WELLINGTON NEWS

ALLEGED WOOL SUBSTITUTES

(Special to “Gintrdiwi”.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 23. During tho year there have been several pronouncements of the discovery of effective substitutes for wool, hut so far none of these have come on to the New Zealand market and it- is to be hoped they never will. Early in March last, the “Daily Mail’’ stated that Yorkshire textile manufacturers had secretly experimented in producing a cloth composed of wool 10 per rent, and artificial silk for men’s and women's wear, the fabrics being mixed before spinning. It was claimed that the artificial silk gave to the finished cloth a rich appearance, and that the durability of the cloth was excellent. It was further stated that the cloth

could bo dyed in contrasting colours. Considerable capital was said to he available for the development of this new material. Prior to the “Daily Mail” announcement graphic prophecies were being made ol an early panic in the wool trade owing to the success „f experiments in making synthetic wool out of waste-paper. The wool trade is still waiting for the panic, at all events since .Inly the Continent has been steadily buying wool ill London ai.il in the countries of production, and at the last London sales those buyers took the hulk of the offerings. Afore recently it was reported from London that a company had been lovmod to man it fact tire “WpoJulose.” consisting of 70 i><*r rent, jute fibre and 30 per cent, of recovered wool, apparotlny jntingo or shoddy, the mixture being “silknted” by treatment with hot rollers. Tt is claimed that Hie material rivals the softest wool and is very hard wearing. The cost is estimated at three-quarters that of the cheapest wool. The wool growers of New Zealand and Australia have apparently something to contend with in the future. but they need not fear “\\ oolulose.” more particularly if .into is the principal fibre used. Tf there is one thing Bradford has been loud in complaint, it is in respect of jute fibre being mixed with wool, and that their complaints were warranted is proved by the fact that they have snggesed to

the growers tho use of an all-wool pack, and have sent samples of the new pack to all the wool selling centres. The trouble with jute is that it will not lake the dye and it is hardly likely that being “silkatcd” will change this characteristic. The wool-growers have more cause to fear “rayon.” or artificial silk which has found a place in the dress economy of the women ol Hie world. But whatever new fabrics may be invented none, can equal nature’s provision for the clothing of the nations. Wool from the sheep will alwitvs be wanted for there is nothing “just as good.” Wool is wool, and stands apart from all other spinning fabrics, just a s cotton is in quite another way an unapproachable fabric. TRADE WITH CHINA For years we have had some one person or another advocating trade with the East. Not so many years ago it was a hunting problem in Australia, and several of the States sent trade commissioners to Japan, China and other eastern countries to investigate matters, and the Commonwealth had. if it Ims not now. a resident 'I fade Commissioner in the East, but tho trade Itetween Australia and the Eats negligible. Our own Department, of Industries and Commerce a year or two ago suffered from a “trade with the East’’ craze and got together a lot of inlormal ion. Inti, nothing came of it. Now a Mr I‘hilpot (’row liter. who claims to have an intimate knowledge of Eastern affairs, is endeavouring to revive the nuttier and a few days ago addro.-sed the members of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Ho re-let-red to tite growth of China in re-

i'eiit. years, and her generally increasing fond lie., joi things modern. 1 hew were becoming more European every day. and their standard of living was changing. Whore rice and chopsticks were once used, to-day thousands of families saw that a joint grated their dinner table, also white bread ami butter. All this i- no doubt true enough, lint there is. still the fact to contend with that Chinese families run get the joints of meal from Manchuria, which during the inisL twelve months has exported frozen meat to Britain. As for bread, the Chinks won’i enjoy paying 7d for flic 211 1 . loaf as we have to do under (lorernmeiil. control. As for butter, we cannot produce enough to supply British ibfiuiromeut.s. Trade with China and other Eastern countries maybe. and no doubt is very desirable, hut so far as Xcw Zealand is concerned it is a dream that may come true some tweutv or thirty years lienee.