Abstract
THE news that the price of wool is rising concerns more people than the primary producers. When one considers the extent to which the funds available for research institutes, especially those overseas, are liable to suffer in ‘hard times’, any sign that times are improving for those countries where wool is an important item in the national economy is welcome. The November issue of Wool Intelligence, for which the Imperial Economic Committee is now responsible, shows that smaller wool supplies are being accompanied by rising prices. West Riding quotations are 40 per cent higher than a year ago; indeed, there has been a rise in prices of about 15 per cent on the average between wool sales held in mid-October and mid-November. Wool production in the current season is expected to show a reduction in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, and although there may be slight increases in South America, the United States, and Great Britain, the aggregate production of these countries will probably be about 7 per cent less than last year. The increase in prices reflects not only this reduced production but also a real increase in consumption in all the world's textile centres. Along with this, unemployment in the woollen and worsted trades in Great Britain is down to 8 per cent, a half of what it was a year ago. The report gives details of wool trade and manufacture in many countries, mentioning some interesting developments. For example, “Active steps are being taken, with Japanese co-operation, to encourage sheep-raising and wool production in Manchuria with the object of securing for Japan an alternative source of supply” (most of her wool at present coming from Australia). Recovery in the mohair industry is also reported; the development of Empire trade may be seen in the imports into Great Britain, almost all of which now come from the Union of South Africa although in 1928 half came from Turkey. Turkey's best customer is now the Soviet Union.
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World Wool Production. Nature 132, 996–997 (1933). https://doi.org/10.1038/132996c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/132996c0