BRADFORD’S DIFFICULTIES

Evening Star, Issue 19919, 16 July 1928, Page 6

BRADFORD’S DIFFICULTIES

The holding of conferences between representatives ■ of the Empire’s woo! growers and the textile industry is no new thing. In the opinion of the trade those held at Bradford in 1924 and 1925 were productive of mutually beneficial results. It may be asked by those not interested in tho trade what particular difficulties exist that call lor discussion. According to Mr Harry Dawson, cx-presidcnt of th,o British Wool Federation, tho problem of an expansion in wool production is pressing and must be tackled. Bradford requires more raw material to keep her machinery fully employed. Tho standard of living has led to an increased demand for woollen goods by nearly all civilised peoples, and tho textile industry is calling for a rapid response by tho pastoral industry to meet tho demand, j Australia is the. world’s largest producer of wool. That country’s flocks reached their maximum size as long ago

as 1891. ' The frozen moat trade, subdivision of \ estates, and periodical droughts have since caused fluctuations below tho figure then reached, and today the totals still stand somewhat short' of it. Two of tho factors against increase have operated in New Zealand also, tho result being that our flocks aro just about the same total as ten years ago. The inducement of very high wool prices has not stimulated supplies equal to the world’s demand, and Bradford textile manufacturers are taking tho opportunity of tho confor- ■ onco to invito co-operation overseas and permit of their industry retaining a position which is undoubtedly not easy at present, lb may bo shrewdly surmised that one of Bradford’s objectives is cheaper raw material, and this i» hardly feasible unless the world’s production is increased. ' Spinners and manufacturers are not confident of being able to show a profit on tho high priced purchases made on their behalf at last season’s Australian and Now Zealand wool auctions, and many of these firms aro understood to he in a very unstable financial position. Foreign competition is also pressing hard, and the likelihood of the balance of tho wool available being shipped to the Continent for manufacture was being discussed when the last mails left England. Tho lack of expansion iu the export trade has just been investigated by the Committee on Trade and Industry, whoso report attributes it to restricted development of international trade and tbo increased selfsufficiency of consuming countries in tbo production of manufactured goods. Somewhat contrary to popular belief tho Gorman'textile industry has weakened since the, war, but France’s, largely through the acquisition of Alsace, has strengthened; while the post-war ’ development of tho industry in Italy is one of tho features of tho trade. Tho growing n.so of European dross in Japan and China has created a demand in excess of tho rapidlygrowing output of Japanese mills. India, Canada, and some South American countries aro increasing the outputs of their fairly recently established mills. Nevertheless France, Belgium, and Italy aro increasing the weight of their export trade, but Britain appears unable to do so. An attempt to compete by lowering easts of production led to threats of tho employees to strike against wages reduction. The position is not very satisfactory, especially when it is considered how largo a proportion of the world’s supply of raw material is Empire-grown. On sentimental grounds alone Empire wool growers should be interested in helping Bradford to regain its old position iu tho trade. Increased production, especially of fine wool, is being indicated at tho conference as the best way to do so. This is a matter in which Australia particularly can be of use, about 80 per cent, of her clip being merino wool. Sir Henry Barwell has signified Australian growers’ willingness to try and comply, though he raises tho objection—somewhat incomprehensible iu view of recent market values —that the monetary inducement is lacking. Bossibly ho is hinting that greatly increased production would probably mean reduced prices. But Bradford evidently regards these as a factor necessary to her recovery, though it is difficult fo see how they would improve her position relative to her Continental and other competitors, who would also participate in the fall.