OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue LIII, 25 October 1919, Page 6

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER

REMARKABLE PRICES PAID FOR j MANUFACTURING -MATERIALS.

(ifROM OUB COKEKSFnNDENT.)

BRADFORD, July 17

There is no more significant * feature in connection with the v,-o/jl >, textile industry than the extra- | ordinarily high prices winch are | ruling for noils, Japs, and thread wastes generally. Values^ have risen beyond all bounds, particularly for merino qualities. It almost staggers one to be asked the prices * now quoted for 64's wastes, laps, and noils, antl yet business is active in them. There is scarcely a dealer in Bradford who does not say lie is oversold, and it must be considered as. a special favor if he will, sell a 5000 weight. This is a very strange experience compared with what one has known in the past, and to see 64's Government tops standing at 73d, with the same quality of lap actually sold at 90d, is an anomaly which the average textile reader cannot comprehend. In 1914 laps would be worth anything from 6d to 8d per lb. less than the top, but to-day the tables are completely reversed, and when the two commodities will again occupy their true relative position., v no one can say. Even noils are fast approaching the issue prices" of merino tops. 'They formed the subject of an interesting conversation a fortnight ago, when •one of Bradford's biggest topmakers was actually asking GOd • for a merino noil about which there was nothing great. As a matter of fact, good noils have sold at 55d to the actual user, but among dealers it would have been thought anywhere from 50d to 53d in the standing price of a decent article. There are big topmakers to-day who are not offering their noils to dealers as was the1 custom in pre-war times, but have actually sold them to users, anl more than one are carbonising their burry sorts. This shows what changes are taking place in the trade, and clearly indicates that these by-products are being sold as much as possible to the actual user.

SPINNERS' THREAD WASTE. Let us now deal with hard, waste —that is, waste made in spinning and in weaving. The schedule issued by 'the Waste Department of the Government when it was in. operation proved to be a very good one,, showing the- whole trade how sectionalised this important branch of the trade really is. Of -course, thread waste, including shoit-ends and thrumbs, are sorted carefully into their respective qualities and colors. They are then taken and garnetted, after which they can be readily used by the woollen trade. It is really wonderful what woollen, shirting and flannel manufacturers can use; all one has to do is to make a standard quality, ;>;amett same, , and then there , an.' avenues galore for their use. It .amounts to this, that there is no product of the worsted trade but what can be readily used in the woollen trade, and all that is needed is to carbonise burry noils, "put broken tops, i.e., laps, through the teazer in the willey house, after which. the raw material can be used in the woollen trade. There are those who prefer to use broken tops in place of raw wool, and no doubt when grey shades are wanted" "tjha.t must be level and true, these laps serve an exceedingly good purpose. They are' all the more acceptable to the woollen manufacturer when the laps are to spin to a fine, count, if they are free of neps. Every scribbling overlooker knows the' difficulty of getting these neps out in the carding-room. This is necessary; otherwise they will come • through into the yarn or pieee^ producing a surface on the icloth 'which is anything but satisfactory. Of course, noils are also largely used iii the shirting and flannel trades, cheapening many a wool blend, which greatly helps to produce flannel and shirting at reasonable prices. The Continental market has always been a big one for carbonised merino noils, while crossbred noils have always found their^ way into the hands of manufacturers who produce heavy crossbred tweedsyfor the million.

IS WOOL RELATIVELY

(CHEAPER THAN BY-PRODUCTS ?

The above question is well worth consideration, and we commend it to users in particular. The writer strongly contends that to-day there is very little indeed left in any byproduct, unless it be crossbreds, the tremendous figures which are being paid for merino noils, laps, and wastes making -it a certainty ■ that there is nothing left in them. No man to-day can pay 30d for an article without wanting at least 3d extra by way of profit when he comes to sell, and in comparison with raw can-, be regarded favorably. One wool, neither noils, laps, nor wastes_ has only to take the issue prices of the Department for merino wools to see that they are infinitely cheaper than either noils, laps or wastes, and particularly carbonising descriptions. Of course, if a user can do with stained pieces, bellies, and locks, then .at the distribution sales of the v Government in Manor Row he can secure some really good cheap lots, and this spurce of supply is well worth considering. For instance, noils are wanted for a special purpose ; which man is going to pay up to 63d for decent carbonised white noils, when he can secure really good scoured merino clothing wools in London at the same prices ? Here we have a few facts which which should commend themselves to the entire trade, because the byproducts of the trade have- got beyond reason, and there is not the value in them at the prices which are being demanded to-day. THE MOHAIR TRADE. This branch of the textile trade has been under a cloud for the past eleven months, but it is certainly showing signs of recovery. The very fact of at least 10,000 bags of Turkey mohair remaining in the handshands of the merchants and banks in Constantinople shows clearly that Germany has been contending with huge difficulties; otherwise the entire Turkey clip of mohair would have been got through to the Fatherland before the armistice was signed last November. As a matter of fact, Germany paid very dearly for practically the whole of the, last two clips grown in Asia Minorj transit difficulties appear to have been so great that when the war finished, to the surprise of all Bradford merchants, some considerable stocks were left behind. This .mohair is now coming to Bradford, where 10,000 bags have already arrived. This certainly is significant. It shows clearly enough that Bradford still is the market for mohair, and this is also recognised by South African

users. Cables to hand during the last, few days from Port Elizabeth report a fairly active market with super-firsts selling around 23d, while surmar kids have actually realised 40d. This is very good news, and is certainly appreciated. Bradford is still going to remain the chief centre of consumption, and spinners are looking forward to' a resumption of business with Germany before many weeks have passed. Directly sound financial, arrangements have been established between London and German banks, one can look forward to a big business. There is nothing.'whatever to prevent this, and we see no reason why mohair should not enjoy a similar boom to that which wool is experiencing today. Mohair has always been a very acceptable commodity to Germany, Russia, and the Balkan States, and many firms in Bradford find district are looking forward to the time when their old-time business can be restimed. LIVERPOOL AND HULL SALES. Last week-end two sales' took place of Colonial wool shown at the cities named, Bradford' Mechanics' Institue being the centre where the Hull consignments were actually sold. This was the first auction sale of this kind held Jin the city, and probably it will not be the last. There was an excellent show of crossbreds at Hull, chiefly from Wellington and New Zealand. The display at Liverpool was equally good, the best clips from West Victoria ber-" disposed of. There was little change in values compared with those ruling a week before the sales, and the fact that the trade has been prepared to absorb another 20,000 bales shows clearly enough that it is in a sound übsifcion. If transport facilities were better and more wool could be got through the combs it would be a real godsend to the entire industry, and certainly lead to a bigger business being transacted in Colonial wool. What is wanted to-day is a speeding iit) in the department here mentioned when a bigger volume Jof business would come through.

The Wanganui Police Court, was ciowded on the occasion of the hearing of the "two-up" cases, and grea& interest, was taken in the proceedings. Thirteen of the alleged offenders charged with playing "two-up" in a public, place appeared, \while 28 of the "school" were absent.

In outlining the case, DetectiveSergeant HolTis said that' for some considerable time past a ?arge "twoup" school'had been in progress in the vicinity of Lundon Park, Castlecliff. This park was owned by the Harbor Board, and was leased to the Castleeliff Town- Board as a reserve for general purposes. Stuiday afterneon was the time usually selected for play. During the time the "school" was under observation some 40 or 50 men .usually gathered there on Sunday afternoons, and the result was that persons in the vicinity of the place and children were sometimes driven away by the bad language of those frequenting the '•school." ./■■/.

Complaints were jnade regarding the bad language that was used, and these reached headquarters, with the result that action was taken. The police investigated the site of the ".school," and found that, it was allv.osfc impossible to get at it in the ordinary way. The pitch had been made in a hollow, which, was surrounded by, high ground, and this hid

the pfeyers from the observation of ar.ybody a few yards away. Scouts were posted round the locality to give the alai'm in the ' event of the* approach of the police. A rush upon the "school" would therefore have failed.

"THE CLEANEST GAMBLING."

A "dug-out" was therefore built within 36 feet of the pitch, and there Constables Farnworth and McMullen secreted themselves on Sunday afternoon, September 28. They would give evidence as to the play and the nature of the language that was used. Although "two-up" was considered wrong from the moral point of view, yet it was considered the cleanest gambling unless a "double-header" was brought in.

His Worship: The .pernicious'effect of gambling'•'is- not ihe time wasted, but the false idea of the value of money it gives to men. If a man on the toss of a coin can win £10 he is not likely to work two weeks to earn the same amount. - , > ' \

t Continuing, Dete'etive - Sergeant Hollis said that not only was the game played on Sundays, but also during the last race meeting. On October 12 something Kke 40 men attended. The scouts were then posted, and the game went on until about 3.30 o'clock, -when.-.the raid took place. Some of those who ran away ran into the arms of ihe waiting l-olice.

His Worship: Some do not appear to-day. ' Maybe they are still running. * . , ■

AFRAID OF LOSING EMPLOY-

MENT

Detective-Sergeant,Hollis said that .several of the men, since the sumn onses had been served, had come to him for advice, as some were afraid of losing their employment. His: "Worship: Those who do not noponr "do not lose a day's pay like those who are here.

Evidence was then given by the police bearing- out the statement of the prosecutor. Detective-Sergeant liollis said that most of the defendants were ordinary "two-up" players, and he pointed out the difference between them and the ring-keepers. The speaker alleged that the ringkeepers < ncouraged the others to play v The usual invitation from the nagistrate for exDlanations was availed of by only three men.

DIFFICULTIES OF THE POLICE. "The police are to be congratulated upon a, very clever and complete capture," said the magistrate, Mr Wyvern Wilson, in giving his decision. It v;as a matter of exceeding difficulty to detect "two-up" players, he said. Anyone who had had experience knew how frequent the game was. When a fully-organised "school" like this one was in full si ing it was almost impossible for anyone not known to the scouts to get near. This difficulty was successfully got ever owing to the clever device adopted by the police. Ay ltli regard to the seriousness of gambling, His Worship pointed out that the Legislature had made the maximum penalty a £50 fine or three months' imprisonment. That was a fairly heavy penalty, but in these cases he did not intend to impose anything like the maximum. His Worship imposed the following fines: —First, offenders who had come to Court, and had thus lost a day's pay, £2 each for one charge and £2 10s for two; first offenders who did not n.T)peiir, £2 10s for one charge, find £3 for two; second offenders, £5.. The two ring-keepers were each fined £10, Each defendant was ordered to pay costs, 7s.