YORKSHIRE LETTER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3195, 20 September 1917, Page 8

YORKSHIRE LETTER

AMERICA AS A WOOL-BUYER \ (From Our Special Correspondent.) Bradford, July 19. A very largely attended meeting was convened last week by the West .Hiding Spinners' Federation, representing 50.G0D workpeople and three million spindles. That fact alone is sufficient to indicate the iimportuuce of. the gathering, and' certainly the meeting was of. an epochmaking character. The whole federation had been called together to seriously discuss conditions which had been precipitated by the schemo of (state control, for not only arc mills now running ten hours per week less, but the allocations raado.a fortnight ago by the Priority Committee are totally inadequate to keep spindles and frames running, and if the' letter of the allocations was to be carried out 75 per cent, of tic spinning, mills in the West, Biding of Yorkshire would be now silent to' the end of August. That- fact alone is sufficient to show readers throughout the British Empire what feelings today animate spinners and manufacturers,' and it is sufficient to say that but for the war there would be a revolution. Tho trade is loyal to a- man, they arc not opposed to State control, but the actual measures taken .have been so unbusinesslike that nothing but tho war has restrained raon from mailing their grievances known in an original fashion. Tho meeting last week-end was a. strong protest against tho conditions which have been enforced by the Imperial author! tics. It can bo said with all truthfulness that • unless there is some amelioration very | serious trouble is threatened, and spin-. tiers are simply "biding their time in i tho hope that common sense will prevail, ■ and that red tape and foolish restrictions will be set on one side. A Significant Speech. A young spinner, Mr., J. W. Bulmer ovidently came prepared to. take the bull by tho horns, . and during forly-ino minutes addresssd the largo-assembly OJ making a very business-like speech. His promised to the Press, but is being revised h some of the details.. The apeech was listened to with interest, and loudly applauded, everything gating a strong fighting attitude, .on tho Part of the meeting.. It has since formed the subject of a. good deal of talk in wool tK circle* and the great eontonUon o ■Mr. Bulmor .was that .America has at present a good deal more wool than she reouircs for the next twelve months, that SmSX* of tie Imperial Oojernment of tie privilege to purchase 45,000 talcs ?h™ 6 wa?ean.y tK.MO bale.itoAmerica control arc altogether. iincalled for aw e-Sfcsas'SSSsSS the position of the American text>te £»£, Mi [statement directing attention to the great American wool industry. United States Wool Trade. Be it said to the credit of the American textile industry great strides have leeu made in manufacWriDß during the pas*, twenty-five years., The industry has.to-day assumed such gigantic proport on that it Is nlavius an important part in tne woolmarket? of the world, and everything points to playing a still part in the coming years. The large optrations of America in Australasian and South-African markets have bceu a bono of contention in British wool circles for the past eighteen months. Of course, 1. tic was done last year in the polonies, because of the embargo in Australia and New Zealand. With South Africa .remainingan open market, American purchases have been very considerable, -While her operations in Buenos Aires and Monte -Video nave been colossal. The wools that have been bought have naturally proved a good Investment to American operators, for her own sheep stocks have slightly declined, and there- is no question that,, her cmsumption has been largely augmented on aooount of national prosperity, white in 1915 stocks .were exhausted on account or large orders being placed for military refiuiremcnts by Buch countries as France and Russia. We think it would bo very unbecoming on our part to cntiolße the large operations of United States, buyers in any country. Some contend, in fact, we believe, Mr. Bulmer stated that America was simply piling up stocks of wool ready for competing against British spinners and manufacturers when the war finishes, but in 'cur opinion tho competition of American mills in neutral countries can never be a serious menace to Britißh mills, although with wages throughout Great Britain having risen 60 to 65 per cent., American competition will oc more to be feared than in pre-war times. • Imports Into America. Let us look at this Important question. A good deal was made at. tho spinners meoting of the large weights of wool which America has purchased since the outbreak of •■ war. Of course. United States mills were compelled to operate largely in order to turn out the targe military.orders placed by Continental neutrals, the bulk of their own domestic wools being totally, unsuitable for making army fabrics. Be--low wc-givo a comparative statement showing tho Imports and exports of wool and its monwfaotures for. the twelve months ending December 31, for the years named: IMPORTS OF PAW MATERIAL. Class 1. Class 2. ; Class.3. Clothing. Combing. Carpet. Total.. Tear. Lbs. . Lbs. Lbs. ■ Lbs. 1912 91.297,211 21.727,434 125,093,705 238,18,350 1913 52,783,675 11,341,768 87,888,260 ,151,813,703 1914 146,337,517 24,881,048 88,974,326 260,192,391 1915 295,564,838 13,264,107 103,892,347 412,721.292 1916 356.400,729 10,082.451 82,736.744 449,189,924 IMPORTS OF MANUFACTURES OF WOOL. Dress Carpets. Clpths. goods. Year. Sq. yds. Lbs. Sq. yds. 1912 1,003,469 4,309,266 14,788.028 1013 '" ;.. 1,010,981 4,857,784 16,268,204 ,914 ' 1,202,845 16,253,170 '10,216,347 1015 ' 1,850,093 7,026,276 13,114,995 \ft b 769,536 5.808,203 4,222,604 •Eq. lbs. , EXPORTS OF MANUFACTURES OF WOOL, year. ' Dollars. 1912 3,509,810 1913 ....'. A.... • 4,589,896 . . 19(4 1 12,479,532 1915 '" J :.'..... 42,596,339 1916 .J 37,442,690 The above shows conclusively that America is doing a very considerable trade and that trade cannot possibly be done without tho assistance of colonial wools.