ENGLISH WOOL LETTER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7867, 1 August 1911, Page 6

ENGLISH WOOL LETTER

WOOLOOMBERS’ STRIKE. ITS EFFECT 1 UPON' PRICES. x PROPOSED NEW DUTIES IN AMERICA. (Specially 'Written lor '*N.Z. Times.”) BRADFORD, Juno 16. The situation ’ has not undorgono any radical change, hut a different complexion lias como over things ■with a declaration of a strike among the hands employed at the various -woolcombing establishments. It is computed that about 10,000 work** people ore employed, in tnis branch of the wool. last night something like 8000 man and women threw down the gauntlet, and said in effect wo wiU work no longer until oar demands are conceded. This has precipitated not altogether unlooked for conditions, and while things to-day do not show a great deal of change, still it is now a question of what is going to happen, A long drawn-out’ strike will playhavoc with the whole industry, but nobody at the moment can see a stoppage of combing machinery for more than two or three weeks. The fact -is the woo’combing operative® stand on their own bottom, and not being well organised, ana their funds low. it hardly looks as if they can hold out long. Be» it said to the credit of the master wooloombcrs, it is not so much a question of an advance -n wages to which they object, as the discipline of tho employees, and their right to control the internal management of their own plants.- The attitude of the workers in many cases of late- has been overbearing. and it is high time that those who called tho tune paid the piper. Just to give readers some idea of the state of affairs, one firm employing 53 hands has had no less than 61 changes in three mouths and a half. In May alone among the night workers it had 53 changes out of 53 hands. The fact is things have come to a deadlock, and it is high time that workpeople were brought to realise their position, and made to fool that they cannot diet:tie beyond reason to those employing them. Wo know there are several firms of commission wool combers who are quite prepared to accede to the demands of the men, but they insist upon better behaviour, and a more reasonable regard •to law and order, MERINOS FIRM AND STEADY. There has not been any weight of business passing this week, nor is there likely to bo until tho outlook clears. Since things became so ominous, topmakers have naturally been inundated with delivery pax fciculars, spinners wanting in all the tops they can obtain in order to keep frames running as long as possible. Several firms have seem this contingency for three weeks "past, and have pressed for delivery. Uie result being that many are id a fairly comfortably position. Some topmakers, on the other hand, realise tho fact that if tho strike continues two or three weeks they are certain to be able to make a fraction more, and therefore havo in no sense been keen to send out all the tops *they have in stock. Other firms say that they will deliver to tho last bag, and so do their utmost to keep their customers running where* they are under contract, this no doubt being a very honourable attitude to adopt. However, the week's business has been quiet, and in view of the coming Coronation festivities, there is not an active market. Most topmakers are quoting to-day 275<1 for a good standard 64’s, but tho majority are not disposed to let things rest until they see what shape the strike takes. It la well known that stocks are the lightest in merinos, but in crossbreds there aro some fair weights. Wo do not think tilings will take much harm either at tile top or wool end of the trade if tho strike does not Cast longer Ihaji three weeks, but in view of largo weights still coming forward direct to consuming centres, it will be as well if raaclg : tn.er>can bo kept going. CROSSBRED WOOD AND TOPS. Business in the crossbred department Is naturally overshadowed by the strike, and also tho marketing of tho new' English clip which has begun this week in earnest. At the same moment it is bard to say what is actually going to take place at tho crossbred end, but wo do not anticipate anything like the same difficulty here as is likely at the merino end of the trade, as fairly large stocks exist at combers of qualities from 40's to 50’e. There is little now to report In any quality. Continental' buyers not coming up to Bradford’s idea of what- should be the price; therefore, apart from a few limited sales in carded descriptions, there is no weight j of business passing. We havo ©very reason for saying that o2‘s and 36’s can be bought 3d to. cheaper than tjirec weeks ago. this being entirely due to more raw material stirring in these qualities, . There - has lately come to hand some fair good weights of now clip Lincolns and Yorkshires, and, this is undoubtedly relieving the situation. Yam spinners continue to be well employed. and that is the most satisfactory aspect of tho crossbred end of the trade. We have said all along thai the situation is more inherently sound than one can. gather from a mere surface survey. Tho market is quiet, and has been for a good month nasi, but alTthe while consumption is telling its tale, tho raw material is being shifted, and tops are disappearing in tho shape of yarns and pieces. This is clearly evidenced by the brisk axles of new English clip which have been witnessed at tho country fairs, . All the buying has had to bo done by English dealers and Bradford merchants, but at every centre briskness has characterised the’ proceedings, and prices wo.m amove those current hero to-day havo ruled. Of course, many are buying in the hope of. tho wool being wanted later on when fleeces have been classed and cased, and although to-day there is not much activity in English de* sexiptions, yet tho condition of the wool this yoa.r is so good that it can easTy make 3d difference in # tho "clean yield." A MOVE TOWARDS* LOWER DUTIES.

The American branch of tho wool trade fills the eye of tho industry at tho moment, notwithstanding a continuance of unsatisfactory manufacturing conditions. The reports to hand this week say that American dealers h?vve Jjeen out_ in tho Far West

and picked up some fp.ir big weights of raw material, and actually paid prices well on towards tho level of those current twelve months ago. Evidently speculation has entered into the game, but what interests many at this end Is the proposed alteration in tho duties on imported wools. My own view is (and I spook with a very intimate connectiou with the Horton trade) that the Democratic schedule will not become law this year, but what everyone feeLs plcaecd over is tho fact that th© proposed alteration in tho duties meets with general acceptance. It only needs the verdict of tho doctors next November to approve of Mr Clark Underwood's schedules to see tho day hastened (for them becoming law. The reported sale of New Zealand cased fleeces it week ago. comprising about 603 bales, has in no sense developed, but somehow I have a.n impression that there is going to be more buying of now clip English wools this year than lart. Still, it iw certain that importing wool on a large scale of either colonial or English will not take place until there is a settlement of the tariff ono way or another. As one analyses the schedule below it will he seen how favourable the duties are for all classes of raw wool,-.and I am certain the suggested ad valorem duties in preference to specific will give an impetus to such wools as second combing, broken, clothing, pieces, and oven bellies, for in importing these the buyer will just pav the same rate of duty as the one purchasing tho lightest conditioned fleece. The scales seem at last to be dropping from the eyes of tho officials in the various departments of the American Government, and as evidence of this ment asked ifor tenders for tho supply of 350,000 yards of pure woollen cloth instead of worsted. which hitherto have been the goods purchased for American soldiers. In this retrooct they nro simply following the example of tho British and Continental countries, and they are striking a blow at tho American Woollen Trust, which has long monopolised these Government orders. Below 1 show tbo proposed new scale of duties alongside that at present’in operation: Proposed. Existing - • ■ i 1 new duty. duty. " “**• : per cent, per cent. Raw wool 20 44.31 Noils, waste, shoddies, etc. 23 38.96 Combed wool or tops 25 • Yams, made wholly or in part of wool 30 82.33 Cloths, knit fabrics and all manufactures of wool ... 43 97,11 Blankets and flannels when valued at less than 50 cents per lb 30 95.57 Valued at more than 60 cents per lb 4o 95.57 'Wblmcn’fe and children’s dress goods and similar g-oods - 45 102.85 Ready-made clothing and articles of wearing apparol 45 £1.51 Braids, ribbons, insertions, ’ laces, embroideries, nettings and like articles, wholly or in part made of wool 35 87.06 Axminster, Aubusson, moquette and chenille car- , pet e - 40 61.00 Saxony, Wilton, and velvet _ „ A- . carpets *— £0.14 Brussels carpets 33 /0.Z9 Velvet tai>*strv carpets, printed on tho warp or otherwise 3a 62.46 Tapeetry Brussels carpets, printed on the warp or • otherwise 30 64.41 Treble ingiains, three-ply and all chain Venetian _ carpets 30 64.34 Wool. Dutch and two-ply ingrain oarpots 35 62.50 Oriental rugs * 50 62.50 Druggets and bookings. printed or coloured ... 2o do.Zo Oarpots not otherwise provided for of- wool, flax, _ „ or cotton 25 49.98 SHEEPSKIN SALE,

About 9000 bSlesi of colonial and Pnnta Arenas sheepskins have been offered at a two days' sale this week in London. The fact has been emphasised that whenever the raw' material‘is exposed if or sale, users are ready for it, and this notwithstanding indications of less now business. Th© low price of pelts and th© unsatisfactory demand which has existed for those for months was bound to have some effect upon skins, but it is wool that buyers were after and evidently skins sold fairly well, although th© attendance of buyers was, below average. The better descriptions commanded keen competition, but .inferior and defective parcels wore somewhat difficult to move.. When compared with the previous auction held on April 2/tli, tho following changes took place; Merino, full and throoquarter-woolled, par to id lower. ■ Merino, haif-woolled id lower. Merino, short and shorn id lower. Crossbred, fine, full and threoquarter wooiilod id lower. ' , Crossbred, coarse, full and three-quarter wooU«l, W to gd lower. Crossbred, toli-wooUed par to Jd lower. Crossbred, short and shorn par. Lambs, pn. WOOL IN’ BOUT) IN AMERICA. Tho following, will Interest readers as showing the inmi/mrit. of wool in the bonded warehouses of Boston, New York, and Philadelphia last May 17th compared with the corresponding date of 1910; May 27. May 28. 1911. 1910. lb. lb. Cl Tro4bS ino !...^ d 39.C92.197 63.067.082 Class 2 (English wools) 930.772 2,945,951 Class 3 (Carpot wools 2L6I6AM- 40.911,5t3 Totals - 61.559A51 106,924,876