GERMANY BUYS WOOL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 219, 11 August 1939, Page 4

GERMANY BUYS WOOL

HIGHEST FOR FiVE YEARS SUBSTITUTES DROVE UNSATISFACTORY Figures available of German raw wool imports and quoted in the journal of the International Wool Secretariat reveal that her purchases were higher in 1938 than in any previous year since 11/33. 1 From January to November, 1938. Germany imported 119,307,600 lbs. oi: raw wool in comparison with a total of 82,603,(500 lb. in 1937 —an increase of 36.704,000 lbs. Such figures indicate that Germany is finding it impossible to replace wool satisfactorily in synthetic substitutes. It has been well-known for some time that- fabrics made from synthetic fibres produced from wool pulp or milk, while having a superficial resemblance to wool, do not possess those properties which, in relation to health and dress, make wool unique. There is also the possibility that her supplies of reclaimed wool are becoming exhausted. COLOURS OF NATURE STILL BEST FOR TWEEDS For centuries the colouring of tweeds was mainly dependent on natural conditions; the soil, the flowers, the sun and' the wind furnished dyes and made the colours. Since the invention and development of the chemical dye these conditions have boon changed. The advantage of this invention needs no emphasising; hut it also has its drawbacks; while enabling the producer to use an unlimited aniount of colours, it often tempts him to turn out a> weed wlijch has no longer any connection with its natural character. “Blendings of attractive colours borrowed from nature are best’ is tiio judgment of :i lending English designer of tweeds. “W a try to he as laitlifnl to nature as possible- and that can he greatly assisted il we follow artistic studies by famous artists whose association of 1 ideas is likely to produce pleasurable emotions which will he lasting. Onei has only to visit- the Burlington Galleries where some of the most famous paintings by Old Alasters wore recently lent for public view, to appreciate- the- fact that- we may liavei lost some of this art b.v modern methods.”