YORKSHIRE LETTER

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2836, 29 July 1916, Page 15

YORKSHIRE LETTER

WHY SUCH HIGH PRICES FOR SCOURED WOOLS?

(From Our Special Correspondent.) Bradford, June 15, 101b'. ■ The outstanding feature of thu recent series of sales was undoubtedly the high prices realised for scoured merinos and ulso ciossbreds. Some.years ago many buyers foretasted a declining quantity of scoured wools, many saying that greaav wools realised just as much _as^sooureds, thus saving growers tho woric of washing their fleeces. These has beep a marked chango in that view, due chiefly to two causes. The first is that up-to-date machinery has been installed, particularly in Central and Western Quensland, ■ whero big weights of station clips aro scoured every year. No doubt it was tho distance from the nearest railway station that compelled growers to adopt this method, beeausa cartage of a few thousand bales of wool entirely with horse teams was a work of no small magnitude. I'or the pnst hundred years it has been a yearly occurrence to cart wool anywhere up to 250 miles, and wlieu the clip of, say, 150,000 sheep had'to be carried in that wny, the task was bo light one. tho advent of the motor wagon has to. some extent changed that, but previous to tlio appearance of the motor, important and well-established scouring machinery was put down in Central Queensland, and in parts of New South \Valos, the neighbouring clips now being scourd. Then, too, there has come into tho market a good number of wollen spinners and manufacturers who are partial to colonial scourcds, it being a general impression that wools scoured in .Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand, and dried in'tho open air, comes up with more bloom than those that aro dried artificially. The \vriter has heard many a manufacturer say that if you want a bright shade dyed, use a colonial scoured wool, and tho colour will be more bloomy than if the same shade is dyed out of grcasv wool scoured here in England. No doubt that obtained some years ago, but of late years machinery for scouring creasy wool in England has certainly greatly improved, ami the principles of dyeing bom" better mastered, has led to most elficient dyeing in practically all the nulls of Great Britain. At the same tim'e, there has beeil an increasing quantity of scoured wool marketed duriug the past five years, And singular though it may 6eem, no one has grumbled. As a 'matter of fact, scoured wools have sold at times relatively better than greasy fleece, particularly 6inee the outbreak of war. and it is this fact which the writer wauts to explain at this writing.

A Wonderful Record. ■ Below wo give readers a list of clips, and the prices they have realised at. tho reccnt series of sales, and they will see that to-day very handsomo figures indeed are forthcoming for colonial scoured ~00' S " ' Broken, Fleece, etc. Mark.. .<'• , d - Eddingtou « Tooralc ** Dagworth *. Wellshot 30 Cambridge Downs W «» Portland ® jj® Bonnie Downs 42 rfa Saltern Creek 41! 41 Dunluce . 41! 39 Bowen Downs 37 SesJjania "Mi j® Warenda 34 Terrick' « SB Greenwood/Tocal 39J 30 Warbreccan Mutti 30 — F and Co in Triangle 37! 331 Thurulgoona 37J 26' Noondoo 37 33 Retro 36| 341 Tinenburra 34 2SJ Why Scoureds are Wanted To those ill. close touch with manufacturing, there is no mystery as to the reason why scoureds are wanted, and such big prices are being paid. In the first place, Russia is tho chief, cause for the present high values which aro being made for Australian, South African, and vNew Zealand scoured merinos. When wo tell readers that 3s. Cd. .to 35., 9d. was paid last series for wools which' in normal times 2s. 3d., it is enough to mako one ask the reason why this is tne case. Of course values have advanced all round, but certainly scoureds have gone one better every time. In the first place Russia must have scoured merinos, giving a wide berth to grease parcels, even the superior West Victorian wools. First and foremost there is the difficulty \Of shipping to contend with; the duty on imported wools is' the same, whother scoured or grease, and it saves an important operation when wool arrives at the mill' doors ready for use. Ihe question of freight is indeed a very serious one, there being m London on Russian account up to six weeks ago a very big weight of wool all waiting shipment. There has had to be negotiations with the Swedish .Government to let wool go through that country to Russia, but now that of Archangel is open, no doubt wool cargoes will go by the northern route. Another important fact is that the Russian import duty is no more for scoureds than tor grease. At least, there was a duty before the war on imported nonis, but wcctiier that has ibeen temporarily suspended. in favour. of military'cloths in order that they can bo produced cheaper, we are not in a position to sav, but .if there is a 4uty it will simply' mean that the Government will take in by one hand and have to pay out by the | other. <i ■ >

A still - more important reason why scoureds " aro preferred not simply by Kussia, but by tho Home trade,'is that good scoureds are ready for the machines without having to be scoured in England. There are scores of woollen flannel apd shirting manufacturers who prefer scoureds becauso they can be taken to tho willey house and be blended with other wools, thus .saving valuable time. Thero is to-day a big hunt on tho part of firms for Sco.ured wool that is free of shiv and burr, because of the time to wait in getting faulty wools carbonised. In'fact, it is tho readiness of clean scoureds for tho machines which lias been a strong factor in causing tho demand thero is 'to-day, and all trades alike aro wanting these wools.. It- is seldom that topmakers compete for scoureds, preferring greasy, because they know thiat even if wool, is scoured .it has to go through the scouring bowl agaiu before being ready for the carding machines. • These arc a few points which explain, why such big prices have been, and aro being, paid for wools ready for immediate .use. ■ , Government Control. Interest naturally is centred in tho proclamation of the War Office of last Thursday' stopping country sales, and even private transaction's. At tho same time, nobody demurs'if the new English clip is wanted for 'military purposes, and the action of the Government can only be understood in the light of the prospective needs of Great Britain and tier Allies. There is but littlo doubt that the action of the Government has been dictated by the present higli standard of wool values, and by ■ a wish to give the trade clearly to understand that no licenses are going to bo granted for export to neutral Continental countries and tho United States. The AVar Offico now knows tho result of the recent census, and everything points to drastic treatment in dealing with tho forthcoming clips of the British Tsles, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, although no weight will be really available in the colonies till next October. Sonio ciuestion seriously the wisdom of the Government's interference with private business, but it is pointed out 'that it has controlled all the jute market, and therefore wool can bo controlled quite as readily. On this head, very serious doubt is expressed, because wool varies so much in quality and in condition, and the Government aro up against a very big thing in controlling wool values and regulating selling and buying. The market lias been very largely stationary. Everylwdy is now waiting developments. selling anl buying l.eing abandoned in Tfome-'b'own fleece and skin wools. Colonial qualities aro very much where they were, last week in vegard to prices. Merinos nv" still wanted, but they are not available in big weitrhi:-. Dry-combed tons ar" much scarcer than fhev were, but whsl'ier it is duo to actual shipments to Franco or to withdrawal of offers it difficult lo say'. Prices are very large!? marking time.