COMMERCIAL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 79, 27 December 1907, Page 8

COMMERCIAL.

I OUR YORKSHIRE « [-;_-"".;- "'. '-.•;■ ' MERINO AND CEOSSBRED WOOLS, [," ! ' ■ SOME PRACTICAL POINTS FOE , . '~'.,;: '..- ■ ;.;. GEOWEES..' ''. ." ' ; ~ "i:. \ ■•■'■' (FROM OTO-BraOiAL''.COBBESPOin)EinS.)-; [..:•/■■■: . : . : . 'V -- Bradford, NpyenUocr r ß'. :: -- !- : I have always contended-.that.-the : :nßrroi.gTowr; i- -'.-ers know about tho fleece;'-the,more",interest, '.. they would have inWafing' for-,their flocks. ■ : To tell a man to grow a good fleece lor wool is ' '■': no doubt all right- but .to tell;: is '■'■:■ bettor still; hence..a fow practical,.notes:on !-.-. morino and crossbred wools wil]; not;'be, out ol Y ■■■ place. ■' ■'■ ' --- r' i -'-- A " r v.'-. , .".-*.- ■ ••■ I?-. Every user-of the raw-.material knows; that: %::'C' the better the staple;--the--more: sound;:, and. \-: -"■'■■ ' ealeablo will-bo the manufactured ! '■'-.- : ■■-.'■■ accounts state that;Hhe\Spming;.v'new;:chp r f---.'.-' from '■ Australia is -shorter.-.-and -worse-'grown-f-::'..' : than lost year, : and this is■.to'bVregret.ted:,:;Jn; '' Kv,-- other words, it means, that the; trado. is going (" ■.'-. to have to tackle a biggo'r quantity, of ,-wastier? i ::; wool. Now a "top", combed out-of tender, mushy wool is : bound .to .be•'.• correspondingly ! : ;-' r ': ehort, as' well as deficient in stj-le, colour,- ;■ ■:■' strength and condition. . Plenty. of topmakers ■ T could name a few years back when the Ausv . tralian drought hold sway'had-some most un-; ■ : ' ■'" pleasant experiences, not a little loss having to ■•:'.■':■': i he encouutercd. There is all the difference in tho i":. - . • world to. a' spinner between wool that, has been. :'. 'healthily grown, and wool that h'as'.been;.-'staf-fiiv'---. 4 ved, for the cells 'of' thbl'-lattor become so shcivk'■'■ ''■■'./..elled' as to possess <little elasticity, an'd_iJlte KC-.v-spinning property being gone causes the fibre !: ; i ! i • to break under the strain.; This, is ■'■ one "'-.in those things which only'those who have had f,-;'\ experience knows wliat are the disadvantages !;■' '■':■<. ■■;■.- of to handle tender,, lifeless wools. ' The ;■:'■;.'-.:-whole piincipal of wool growing-seems,to me- :■;:';■■ to' revert to the stomach.'of the sheep, and ,the ■';- i'Bame- being: filled with good,'nutritious food. , ;■: :: . ■ Like else, even asieep cannot do the ■ } ! , ■' : work notnre..designed..without.-.its; productive, :>: ■ capacity , being,adequately 'supported by a rich] :, pasture, and it is" tb'.be hoped.;thafiAustralia! !'.':- : ..will-now have .done with, its ' record, of F'■■.;'■"' ' droughts. ! : :'::;" ! ' '.-'i-': • "..t f^..; 1 ,-',;.■- Some, concern is .manifest.in certain -nianu- 1 !':.',/: faoturing' quarters about the I growing scarcity. PW;': at ' .New , Zealand : '/ inerino wools, ■: crossp,;;'i ,'breds: "bossing ..the; ,:show." This"', is tS;. , -for' -.'souie things ■ -rather . to be-'T.re- ':.' ;' ; /!sretted,. but growers .will, undoubtedly"con;;':J . tinue to produce.that which'-.pays thein best. : : At the same time,,it is to be sincerely hoped £; ;>:.;. ;'thnt fine wools will not disappear, 1 these serv- :?>::.■,. ing a most useful,purpose, audi'are"prime fav- ,;; v ?-.. onrites with Inlhojcasef;;i ■■',-'-. of.-New, Zealand- merinos'we seldom'.firitl'a.tenV j'-.'.'V.-'.v "deV grown staple, and it has been'-'frctjuently,; p..:■'■■■■• .' remarked among-buyers.that they, very seldom' r , "■■■■■. indeed'find among Now Zealand .wools nny lack i ; ; .-', of vitality in the staple. I should say that ;"-: ..':■■' New, Zeiland . \ropls','-; ; botd', , !inerino' and cross- .;...' bred, can holdxtheir'owri'.'agairistall coaib'rs.'on. I.'-.; .•'.' this ono point,'.thpugh frit,; right. to'.'say, that iv- , .. 1 .'Tasmanian wools'- arei-'also/ very■'sound indeed, !::.'■.' -.'■.:. and in other respects about at, the top of the tree Si;;' ~'. -for, general oxcellonce.: Now, because of. their i*':'.'?''.soundness, New Zealand wools are'often.mixed Iv , /,':. , .: .with both. South' .Australian and Queensland : s' ;; :-r - in;producing tops,' these acting the part of I;-' ':'-■ '-';;■ "throughs" : when the. .-blend is composed of •;,:■:;.' :• Bomething...short, tender and .mushy. ■ Theni \\ '\"''■'. ; too,; the total free'dom-from burr, is another |-' ; . V ' satisfactory feature about New, Zealand.wools/ '{?':.■;■' : .'.:' which'cannot bo , said v 1' , ',.. l;State wools, - unless -It-, be Queensland.- .West I '■', .-.'■;■ .''lßidiog woollen',cloth', manufacturers are very 1,'.-:;: much. prejudiced in favour of New Zealand t: V:. nierinos, on account of the cleanness of tho ?;,'.•'... staple when- scoured,'and; a';. less : :quantity of },'.';',. ,'■ New Zealand ■< wool as i.carb'onisetl -Ithah'iany ■ ifi.j-.-■','' other wool:grown in Australasia or South Amer.'j,-. ■~-.rica.:'Bven.-the;.'fact; of" mamifacturers ..being. i> . p, ': ablo.to destroy'.seeds;. biirrs, and other vegot-•7;-2 '■'■■ . able matter should not • make 'growers ; carelepj r. ; :: :.-, /about these objectionable element's "being found .:,-■ :-in their wools,! for the. principle 'still, holds ':,'. -■'.''•;= : . : . good that,the.cleaner the .wool the better-the |fj; '*..'price,'extracting always" caiising wool to perish jiv-. ;:>'. a' little in lustre and strength.- On _ever'y. hand, ;> r.-; , ;- merino wools , are to-dny. >in' excelle'nt".'demand :'•-' .'■;' . if there is any; character at, all.'about them,; :Vi';.-- and' the few points' mentioned- arts ;. ■'■. '■_'._..'■: worth the' consideration .of thWe" growing!and' j-••■.;'■ handling these.;wools.',.. : .v,;,-; .-;•-:-,;,;... ,'-, ■/■-'..■... . Cape wools are 'a' very "much liked article,, '■■■ ■ : .,■ providing theyiare. well-grown and bf.\goo'd; fV'A- '■'■ length- They always,scour an excellent colour, ■ ii;;:.".;'.. are as a rule very-sound,: but-their'wasty couU '-f, ..;:;".; dition is rather - a': drawback. If farmers could ?■'■' '.•.■'•'■also see their.;way to cease;,shearing twico a I': ■•'.:•.-•,' year it would-be!to the mutual-advantago>of ■..'.'■ ::;:, : >.the whole : . South 'African 'wool industry. The i.: ; :, 'wools are cxcoHent in 'quality, but often very t|--;":'.:,-...' heavy and fatty. ,- .';:■', •' ■■'■ ~:-.: ...x-.-.. ... 1;,'. -.'(■ ~ : -In dealing with. pjbsshreSs.,w i ft,ha,ye a,totally: 5;-:-- article to: consider, for' herb there' i[ ;;■.;, is something "more tangible and solid to"face ; '/'■■'■ ■' the ordeal which every fibre of wool has to ■;.■.-■■■ endure ' before 'it reaches the finished fabric. !;'- : ,-.''.. ,1 have been asked many a time if it was post i , .. ■'■;'-.- ■ 'able to card, comb and. spina blend.of wool */'•'.. -in /which . merinos' and crossbreds had been f...,..: mixed together;; This is absolutely;impossible,: :'..;;: '/impossible, from the standpoint of' the. ma-.' J-;. , ,.:.',. /chines, and most impracticable from' a business ;',; standpoint. Even' if iO'si crossbreds' are worth J .;'.;> ', /as .■ much as'- a Botany, it Vp'uld then be ;.;■,-, • altogether unworkable, while as to the final re- ■ -/>-.■';■;■; eults, -nothing' but disaster, would' attend- such h ':.';'.'.'.' '■ a mixture of; two opposite -/materials. When a •-. man ; buys. wool he I must*first, consider! it's «;,■'■'.':special fitness'for the article -he".intends, to |:v produce,-and with each, grade of. wool filling its f■'-.''.'.. own particular sphere.'it l would be most inadt:-.' ./ ;.visable ; to attempt-.to; force it 'to :do what j ■ ■,■ nature never intended./ :.In '■'. .the.several..varied ;.; ; ties of wool which nature has given us we.see; :;.-■>; a most iviso arrangement, and that arrange,X'., ■' .mept is bound to /result successfully if it is '■ .-"•.-■•;. strictly adhered to. Crossbred wools . hea-; >;■. '-. vier in the fibre and more.'bulky in'circumfer- , i- L ■■';■ enco than are merinos, hence'the two .classes ;/./ '..can only.be,dealt with separately,, arid put to :' ..-/ the special purpose', for which th'ey are fitted. ;.■■■ ;._;.'".ln' tho case of crossbrecla we'find them going |.'' ; : ; largely to. prounce heavy "..bulk -but [--;'',-...' at the same /time present/day .machinery', has; f: r . /very extensively enabled manufacturers to pro- ,'-' ■"'■ '-. duco some very /fashionable .materials,.'.which. t■;:V." are • bulkingj.la'rgely:' in , tho ;garb of.-both; irien' ( ' : . ,-,j and women.'M'hore'is'no doubt that pressure ■:■■'■ .. of-circumstances hastoalarge'extcnt been the ! . '/. cause of crossbreds poming to the front, but , . ■'•■ whether or not they are here to- stay-for an ; : indefinite period it .is :hard to say. '. TheroVie;| i ■..'" little doubt-that wools ranging' fromi'SO's to i;. SS's quality wiH-remain at the front until'me-/ , \: ■•'.'. ■'/ rinos become morp plentiful andcheaper, but y- : - I am rather inclined to "think that, the general. ■:..; ■;.'.* public this-last few.years has ha'disuchj-a'..taste. J,', , ./.', for crossbred made'fabrics: that "for; a , ., little, ?;■''.']:■ • while they -will devoto their, attention'to;firier' i '/■:.:. fabrics than ;what T coarse crossbreds/.produce.: ;V ''■<-' Nobody can!'dispute' tlio.usefulness'',bf;crbssbred' i ". ,;: : wools. They;are,to-day; supplying , ;jhft,'-million 7 ■■-.''.. with some very'fashionable and".cheap gar- , ;; •'■' ments in the,'shape of "tweeds," : an'd overyV- ...7.■ thing points to these remaining ;at the front .'.. : in more or less modified forms. ■«.•. ' ;.V ■ ;■ ', A TRIELB;'TOAKEE.;;. ;;„.,,,,-, ; ■ There can be no question of a doubt that ~ ■' things in Bradford are the turn chcapor, and ■. ia'man can buy anything from 32's,to 80's quaJ:;. ■•'.'. lity tops at a fraction; less than ten-days , ago,- , f //'; anything below 50's being fully \A. down; !;-"■:../.- Users in this disti'ict have called for a halt, * ■ and cue deepening outlook caused by the fin- . , .ancial strain has given rise to a feeling of •'■'..■.'.'•.-..uncertainty which is impelling every.body. tor. V. /. . do no more, than mark time. I'am.not-in .the ?'/-,' least pessimistic) but tho generality"of men ;■ : , ' consider it policy to do no moretlian look on, ;■"-'■-■. and new business is puroly and simply" of a ■:' shopping character. It's a rare good job that ! ! nobody has...much- to sell, - otherwise there ' would soon bo a sharp relapse. The chief i.- business of lato has been the-work of -selling : ';."" forward, and hero thero .js' , noticeable.' a , fair ; ' ' degree of activity. Quotations ;aro generally i' .'."' Id. down for nest January.Hlelivery, -our big- '('■■'■ eest merino ' topmakers "6fl'ei'ing' J no« i, "tb book i.'.-'' , forward at 2s. 4.5(1., at which they have sold [-■■'■■'■ . a considerable weight. Australian cable news ■ is hardly so strong as it was, and topmakers !':' ■-.'. are hoping to: see things still further ease to '■'.'./ 'i T)ring wool down to a moro reasonable basis! i. : V; One of the soundest aspects of current trade rC. '• lies in the fact that neither buyers or sellers !.,./ .'.■' display the least uneasiness, the majority feel- ;- . : - ing that things will right themselves • when the ■ '' ■ present untoward factors 'have passed'-, way'.'. ' : Business in-the textile trade was never more <'■ •' and if the present is a time to "be i cautious, stocks are extremely light, and the !". "■ • rd'.v material'.is wanted. This much can be '•■'■' •'..'■ eaid that .while tops .arp lower, raw wool is. : "' no cheaper, and a bit of good combing wool '. ./• is still holdirig its' own. I don!t knowl.of any. f- ' . -.- spot whero ni' man can to-day buy at .more }-.'■■• favourable'-terms except in English : de'scripi' ' tions; and'crossbred, both colonial and.domes'tic, cannot; be bought to produce a top at the \ i ■'. price spinners are offering. I don't think that I '' ■'■': .-'■ the best 40's.top that, is made will command !."■ more thanSsJ'd., and almost any. weight can bo ;'. bought at-that figure. ,Of course, there is a •■ , strong bearing movement,, and this is all tne ' : more in evidence when spinners will accept i nothing less- for their yarns. They aro so ex- "• tensively sold forward that they.aro complete' masters' of ,'the situation, and many seem ; disposed to buy futures than to sell moro yarns. Bradford exports to America , for last \- . '■'.'" month again- show a sensible increase, and : . trade this last few months with' that 'quarter I-'.-..-' has been particularly brisk. Mohair .is yory '■.- , . quiot, the only tiling moving being Turkey, j' aad some small quantity of Cape winter. ■