PRICES AND LABOUR

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1930, Page 12

PRICES AND LABOUR

V A LOST ADVANTAGE j

Messrs. L.V Dawson;. Sons and Co.. London and Bradford, with Wellington offices, report London, 9th April, that: "Altogether, there is.a much improved outlook; and a good latter-half, of the year for fine sorts seems to be generally expected. These hopes are certainly more justified than/for some" time past. ' The improvement/in the market is unfortunately being overshadowed temporarily by the threatened stoppage in the Yorkshire Industry. The problem is much complicated by numerous private arrangements between some.-firms and their, workers, and also by the position taken up by the overlookers. " There has been, however, a surprising- unanimity in the action of the employers in posting the .notices; on the* basis of the, Macmillan Report. "CHEAPER GOODS FAIL TO ARRIVE."

"There is also a more complete unanimity in the general complaints on the part of all concerned, that whatever concessions may be made for lowering of costs, the advantage doe's not reach the wearer. The growers who are supplying cheap wool—the 'manufacturers who have been producing cloths.at unremunerative values for some years—and now the workers, who are also asked to make sacrifices — all complain that the cheaper goods fail to arrive in the homes of the working people at a similar economic price. The heavy exposes, or the large margins, of distribution, need '■'some severe re-adjust-ment in. thjs respect, either by competition, or' ra-quicker turnover, so that the community may get the benefit, and that a resultant increase of ■demand may arrive to'workers and all interested in the production. ' / UNITED STATES TARIFF.

' "The market has been cheered by the advent of some support—although not large^—from U.S.A.; both for good merinos and for a few:..medium crossbreds; otherwise, Germany, Great Britain, and Alsace have been the principal operators. The U.S.A. Tariff, which is. now expected to come into operation oa Ist May, will cause general disappointment. The duties on raw ; .materials are generally higher, and somewhat ■ seriously so, /on noils, wastes, and shoddies." ~