WOOLLEN TRADE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 17, 14 October 1927, Page 11

WOOLLEN TRADE

DEPRESSION AT BRADFORD INCREASED COST OF, PRODUCTION MANY FIRMS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS Dr Telegraph.—Press absociatioh. Copybight. (Rec. October 13, 7.30 p.m.) London, October 12. Bradford’s employers’ section of the Wool Council, in explaining the termination of the agreement, declares that the depression is comparable with that of 1925. Since 1920 194 firms have gone out of business, including 166,000 swindles, 8596 looms, and corresponding quantities of carding, spinning, ana finishing machinery. The list is continually increasing. It is pointed out that while wages throughout the country have increased 75 per cent, since the war, wool and wages have increased 100 per cent., and the cost of production has increased 130 per cent. On the contrary, Continental wages are half those of British employees. The industry is retaining only 73 per cent, of the wool supply, compared with 93 per cent, before the war, despite the efficiency of plants, the ceaseless search for market?, pnd the endless variety of products and styles.—Sydney “Sun Cable.