WOOL SUBSTITUTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 132, 4 May 1940, Page 6

WOOL SUBSTITUTES

Attention has been drawn by the International Wool Secretariat to the very considerable use of staple fibre as a substitute for wool, and to the danger it implies to Australian and New Zealand producers after the war. The matter is one of the greatest importance to both countries whose wool production plays a considerable part in their economy. Total world production of stapie fibre in 1939 equalled the total scoured wool production for Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, and Uruguay in that year, the International Secretariat states. At the same time the United Kingdom’s production of staple fibre and the United ' States’s consumption of it were.' both doubled in 1939. Since the outbreak of war the use of artificial wool has increased many times, with Italy, Japan and Holland intensifying their production. Germany, as may well be understood, is said to have entirely eliminated wool from fabrics which are supposed to be semi-wool,' while in the United States blankets containing 85 per cent, of substitute wool are being made by a bigmilling concern. Such is the very serious menace to wool producing countries, accentuated to a considerable extent by the war, but known to be increasing eacb year before the conflagration burst upon the world, In 1936 artificial wool production was 250,000,0001 b; a year later the total was 600,000,0001 b, one pound corresponding- to . two pounds of greasy wool. Expressed in another way, Australia’s wool production equalled the output of artificial fibres. Now the latter have grown in volume to reach the scoured wool production of the countries named, and a “most disturbing aspect of the position” is the development of sales in the United Kingdom with powerful combines at their head. Suitings that contain 90 per cent, of staple fibre' are being offered to tailors. The Wool Secretariat’s campaign for the fuller use of wool, with its many advantages over the artificial product, has not been without benefit to the producers, but the stimulus given to staple fibres by the war makes it apparent that a very vigorous campaign must be instituted if the natural product is to maintain its position in world manufactures.