WELLINGTON NEWS

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1928, Page 3

WELLINGTON NEWS

ARTIFICIAL SILK AND WOOL

(Special to “ Guardian.”)

WELLINGTON, June 2

The effects of artificial silk on wool were recently dealt with in an address by Professor Barker at Bradford. He said that with an artificial silk production for 192 G of 235,000,0001 !>. it was not surprising that woolgrowers were alarmed, for in terms of clean scoured wool that figure was over 50 per cent, of Australasia’s wool production. If, however, the artificial production for 192 G were put in terms of the other natural fibres then a new adjustment of view was called for. The following list supplied these figures:— Artificial silk in terms of the world’s cotton production, under 2 per cent; artificial silk in terms of the world’s wool production under 8 per cent.; artificial silk in terms of Australasia’s wool production, over 50 per cent; artificial silk in terms of the world’s silk production, about 250 per cent. Wliat was to lie said for and against artificial silk? The uniformity of fibre and ease of standardised production were dominant factors in favour of the synthetic fibre. The beauty of tho fibre could bo subject to “fashion periodicity,” and such factors as price, warmth -softness of appearance would have to be taken into account. Professor Barker then advanced the argument that the manufacture of artificial silk would increase the wealth of the world, and would lead not to a decreased, but to an increased demand for natural silk, and the other natural fibres. This suggestion was strongly supported hv the Agues supplied by the Secretary of the Silk Association, which shows that the production of raw silk in 1926 had increased by over 20,000,0001 b. above the five-year period, 1911 to 1915. This contention is still further supported by the fact that the demand for wool is exceeding the supply. FROZEN MEAT MARKET.

In iiis speech at Morrinsvillc the Prime Minister directed attention to the improvement in the market values of frozen meat, and inforeiitiully it was to ho assumed that the Government deserved credit for the improvement. This, of course, would be an absurd view, for tho advance in price is due to quite different causes. The chief cause is that cut-throat competition on the part of the Argentine exporters of chilled beef has ceased and frozen and chilled meats arc being marketed ill an orderly manner, that is to say that the consumptive demand is being met with adequate supplies. While the trade war existed supplies were in excess of the demand and prices were depressed for all classes of frozen meat. All grades of New Zealand lamb and mutton have advanced from fd to Id per Ih, the greatest advance being shown by heavyweight North Island mutton, and heavyweight Canterbury mutton advanced jjcl i>er 11). Heavyweight lamb also showed greater improvements than lightweights, showing that consumers are being compelled by circumstances to buy the cheaper meats. In future it seems that we must rely entirely on tho United Kingdom as ;v market for frozen meat. According to a report furnished by the veterinary officer attached to the Commonwealth High Commissioner's office, the volume of imports of frozen meat into Continental countries, has reached the zenith, and it is probable that a decline has now sot in. Until recently the total annual quantity of frozen meat which could he imported into Ger many free of duty was 102,000 tons, and this quantity has been further reduced by legislation to 50,000 or (50,000 tons. This restriction on importation would in all probability have a serious effect on the development of the frozen meat trade. The general policy throughout the whole of Europe was to endeavour to restrict imports of foreign foodstuffs to as great a degree as possible, and to foster home'production.