YORKSHIRE LETTER

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 63, 8 December 1920, Page 10

YORKSHIRE LETTER

WOOL SALES BEING ABANDONED ffrom Our Special' Correspondent.) Bradford, October 21. Isotlnng better ran 'be reported regarding tho wool textilo industry, and, to say tho least, tho entire' trad'o hus fallen upon ovil times. This is very regrettable. The miners' strike jg 0 f itself sufficient to paralyse all industry. If it continues, it cannot bo many weeks before tho strikit will doal a further crushing blo.v to the ontiro trade of the country, though many feel that it is difficult to nee how tho textile trades of Lancashire and Yorkshire can 1» much worse. A very largo number of mill workers aro on shoit lime, and tho number increases weekly. Tn Bradford, 12,000 to l:!, 000 wool-combing operatives are on short lime—a significant commentary on the state of tho industry gcrerolly. Tt has also beon estimated that 5000 to 6000 spinning operatives isro working from Tuesday morning to Friday night. Some iirms of manufacturets aro oven working a shorter poriod, for not only is thoir machinery standing Saturdays nnd Mondays, but manv uru only running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is scarcely too much to say that the coal strike is a-welcome event, many mill owners being gravely concerned about linding employment for their operatives, a task thoy never found to be so diliicult. Tho presont slump is unlike any of its predecessors, for in tho slack times which have been experienced in past years, many mills could easily keep their machinery running. To day standingjiia chinery in found in practically every mill in the West Biding, and where overtime is being worked it is being restricted to the very minimum with a view to keeping going day and night shifts on the threo consecutive nights only. It scorns as if buyers of piece goods have lost all interest in even looking at new designs, their whole concern boing to get rid of their present dear stocks. Melbourne Sale Results, Last Monday tho first wool sale since 1016 took place at Melbourne. About 15,000 bales will also be offered in that city this week. Trie opening harmonised with the Sydney sales held a week ago. According to Sydney cables received in Bradford, fho highest price realised was 30d„ whicli was for a" superior lino of G4's to 70's warp merinos. It cannot have been superior Wost Victorian grease wool, as it is too early in the season to offer this staple. It is said that superior merinos advanced 40 to 50 per cent, nlwvo appraisement prices, ard us West Victorian wools were appraised in the grease at HOtt., we think that 3Bd. must have been paid for a very light-conditioned Kirorinu clip. These wools were appraised at about 2-ld., and 50 per cent, additional would mean the wools selling around 33d. to .')6d. Apparently good flhafty merinos appreciated 20 to 25 per cent, above appraisement prices, while good topraaking wools advanced 10 to 15 per cent. These values mean that Bradford importing topmakers cannot yet buy to produce good Gl's tops on a five-shilling basis, and as it is reported that one firm at least has sold as low as 4s. 3d., thev must be expecting values to come much lower. Of course, it is only the beginning of the season in Australia, mid 1,900,000 bales of now clip wools havo vet to come forward. It does seem to tho majority in the trade that 4s. 3d. is too low a price, this basis being a mere gamble. It is doubtful if wool can lie bought in Australia to-day to make « decent top under ss. 9d. landed Bradford, and although tho entire industry is experiencing great depression, to sell under u ss. basis looks like playing with liru., Postponed Sales. The Hull sale, last w.eok -was littlo better than a fiasco, the auction in Liverpool on Friday of• River Plate wools wa« tho worst ever known, the Brisbn.no sale was postponed on Tuesday, and tho Liverpool salo' is also cancelled. Such a course of evonts has never been known before in the wool trade, and reveals unmistakably that there is something wrong with the trade. Next Monday London is due to open, when about 90,000 bales of' Governmont-owned wool are to bo catalogued, and about 30,000 bales of free wools. A fair weight of lustralian new clip will bo catalogued, and the two days' sale when this material is brought forward will be watched with conwdornblo interest. Everybody admits that the auctions will begin under very unfavourable conditions, and it is a foregone conclusion that not halt the wool will find buyers. The entiro trndo seems to-day utterly opposed to buying anything beyond actual needs, nil alike feeling it to be policy, to concerve their resources. The various sections of the trade are urged to 'be optimistic, but that is a very difficult task in face of to-day's conditions, and the big stocks of dear pieces which confront everyone. As far. as one enn see there is a greator tendency on the part of manufacturers and wholesale houses to sacrifice prices tlmn among retailers, it b?ing rocognised that a trade revival can only be. brought about by prices being established on a moro reasonable basis. It is not wise to regard tho situation too pessimistically, the wiscjt course, being to face the known facts with n strong determination. Disaffection in vorious parts of the world, vannns subtle disturbing influences, and the instability of exchanges are however, retarding" business most seriously. Everybody knows that there ore hums accumulations'ot wool, which must come to tho market sooner or later, but there is nrrcious littlo incentive for buyers to operate, which means that values must stead, ily decline. S.nrlnn Shades. Fashions in ladies' wear are like the weather, always changing, and manufacturers are now • busy preparing for the ! new desiens and shades for next spring aud summer. Many firms regard tho present winter season as n blank, and aro disposed to give it the "go by." Brickred shades in big coats, costumes, scarves, and othor feminine wear aro to-day fashionable, and bright colours will 1}» a leading feature for next spring and summer. We understand from leading Bradford firms that the most fashionable shades in dress goods will figure around chestnut tints, including a 'peacock blue w-ith a greenish tint. Stripes will be fashionable among dress goods, and some are sanguine enough to think that even botany cloths will still remain in the forefront. This is due to tho big reduction in botany cloth prices, there being to-day very little difference in the price of 'botany cloths compared with medium, and fine crossbreds, at least the difference which was manifest last season no longer obtains. It can be said that manufacturers are doing their utmost to offer serviceable cloths at a price that will tempt'the million, and it is belioved that tho best means to get trade going again would be for retailers to bring down the prices of the goods thev are carrying. The change from high values to the low level which obtains to-day lias been very sudden, but flow price is not tho only consideration, though no doubt it is the most important one. Tho consumer to-dny is not expecting something for nothing, but if prices were no more than double those obtaining in pre-war days, they would induce public support. Tho public hove kicked against paying £2 to £2 ss. per yard for 18 to IDoz. blue serges, winch in pre-war days were being retailed at around Bs. Gd. Tho present heavy stocks of dear cloths is no doubt preventing an improvement in .business, but when nil U said aud done, these dear stocks will havo to be shifted before any real rovival can be expected. .gewijaflßdMSßagißSissi- um "