FUTURE OF WOOL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1941, Page 4

FUTURE OF WOOL

POST-WAR POSSIBILITIES. It is estimated that consumption of wool in the United States during the first seven months of this year was 50 per cent greater than the whole clip of the States for the full 12 months of 1940. The need for continued heavy imports of the raw material by America is emphasised by that turnover, says the bulletin of Winchcombe, Carson, Ltd. In viewing that information, it is'desirable to remember that the United States secures large supplies in other countries as well as from Australia and New Zealand. Heavy importations are being made of merinos from South Africa and crossbreds from South America. Ample supplies are, therefore, available from which requirements can be obtained. With Europe eliminated as a consumer, the great wool-producing countries have temporarily lost operators which imported millions of bales every year. After the finish of the 1916-20 wool scheme, the trade was faced with many problems. The chief mills in France and Belgium had been destroyed, but were gradually restored. A “mountain” of wool comprising surplus wartime stocks and the growing clips were expected by some authori- ' ties to depress the market for years. I But as probably will be the case after this war, warehouses, shops, and the people’s wardrobes were more or less bare of supplies and necessity demanded their replenishment. The mills became taxed to capacity to fill orders. They bought wool both for immediate use and to build up normal reserve supplies of it. History will probably be repeated provided the money is available with which to finance purchases. Artificial fibres are now produced in very large quantities, the position certainly showing change in that respect. Their influence as substitutes should not be ignored, but they are greater competitors with cotton and silk than with wool,