SNIAFIL.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 January 1926, Page 2

SNIAFIL.

A SUBSTITUTE FOR WOOL. A .aST ORGANISATION IN ITALY 1 Australia it N.Z. Cable Association LONDON. .January 11.

The “Yorkshire Post’s” s]>ocial representative sent to Turin, chiefly to investigate artificial wool production, sketches the remarkably intense industrial development in Northern Italy, The representative says factories are springing up rapidly on the plains ot Piodont and Lombardy. Production is increasing at an ustoiishiug rate, employers and employees alike showing tireless enterprise and industry. The most conspicuous example of the spirit of Italy is the development of tic artificial silk industry, carried out in twelve factories by the Soeiete Nazionale Industria Applicazione Viscosai, better known as the Soia A'i.scosa. The correspondent points out that the industry is employing cheap labour, but the proprietors are providing housing, which it is intended will ultimately be sufficient for forty thousand operatives. The housing includes Hats at nominal reals for families, while the bids and girls are housed and fed free in large and picturesquely situated hostels.

The Sniii ViseoMt controls hundreds •>! miles of electrified railways for the carriage of its workers and goods throughout the area. Turin. Milan and Km.- tlm cheapest hydro-electric pmier available. Artificial wool, known as Snail'll was discovered by Sttitt A'i.scosa Line'.' months ago. A Yorkshire woollen muiml'nctiirer who wtts recently here went away convinced that it will revolutionise Lite Bradford trade and he sent a quantity to he worked up in Yorkshire, for it is equally -adaptable to wool or lottnn machinery.

The correspondent is sending a quantity of Suiaiil to Bradford in order that the trade may see clothes ma.de therefrom or Sniafil and wool blended. Signor Gnnlino, tlie president of the Snia Yiscosa Coy., says he is postivc tlie new fibre will not injure the wool growing industry in Australia or other countries. ‘‘lf we have seen,” the president says, “that artificial silk has not injured the silk trade—indeed, it has assisted the hitter’s expansion—similarly, I believe Sniafil will help the development of the natural wool industry. It is true clothes made with a percentage of Sniafil will be cheapened, lor Sniafil is only half the price of wool. Cheaper' clothes will increase the demand for clothing and probably what is lost on the sale of all-wool clothing will be made up by men and women demanding a larger supply of clothing. Sniafil can be blended with wool, cotton or silk to the extent of eighty per tent, and give an indefinite variety of materials and prices. Yorkshire need not fear Sniafil. It is little less warm than wool, but of higher tensile strength and better lustre. Its filaments are so mixed as to facilitate dying. A Sniafil factory will shortly lie established in the North of England.”