WOOL CONSUMPTION.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 356, 10 February 1937, Page 2

WOOL CONSUMPTION.

FINDING NEW MARKETS » Increasing Possibilities In China. Although New Zealand’s sheep population has not yet been restored to the record level of 30,840,000 head in 1929, there are a million more sheep this year than last. With pasture improvement being undertaken in the good rainfall areas of Australia it is probable that in years to come the clip will reach 4,000,000 bales annually. With this steady increase in flocks new avenues of consumption are necessary if prices are to be maintained on a satisfactory basis for growers. The opinion that the greatest field for increased consumption lies in the East, and particularly China, is expressed in a report from Winchcombe, Carson, Ltd., woolbrokers, Sydney. At present demand is fully adequate for the quantity of wool produced. But the population of the older wool-using countries is not generally growing. In some quarters its ! probable decrease in the years ahead is giving concern. That aspect adds to the necessity of findihg new markets. The purchasing power of th? great bulk of the Chinese people to-day if small, but in time it will expand, states the report. In the early p-art of this century the Japanese were more or less similarly situated, but their use of wool in 30 years has risen from an average of about 7000 bales annually to the present total of 700.000 bales- to 800,000 bales a year. This season considerably increased purchases of wool have been made for China. That is partly due to the establishment of a mill in China by Batons and Baldwins, a most important firm of Yorkshire spinners. Six modern mills are now operating in the country, tiwo being English owned, one Japanese, and three Chinese. Similar changes are showing in the character of Chinese imports as those noticeable with Japan in the early days of her industry. In the first 10 months of 1936 she imported 7,795,0001 b of tops from Great Britain, whereas four years ago her imports of those goods- were negligible. Simultaneously she has decreased her importation of yarns as she is now able to do her own spinning. As time goes on she will probably reduce her purchases- of tops and reach the stage of handling almost the whole of her own requirements from the raw material to the manu factored fabric.