ENGLISH WOOL LETTER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7868, 2 August 1911, Page 9

ENGLISH WOOL LETTER

STRIKE AMONG WOOLCOMBEES. HOW IT WILL AFFECT TRADE. - (Specially Written for “N.Z. Times.”) BRADFORD, Juno 23. This has been rather a unique week in connection with the textile industry of Yorkshire, and two important factors are dominating the situation. The ono is an unwelcome strike among the employees of 'the woolcombing branch in which something like 11,000 hands are affected, the other being universal rejoicings on account of the Coronation of King George V. It does seem a pity that the latter world-wide event should bo marred in the way it is, for the members of the' wool trade cannot rejoice as they should when they know such a disastrous labour dispute is upsetting business and causing privation to thousands of women and children. However, there seems at present to be no immediate prospect of a settlement, although a member of the Board of Trade is now in Bradford, but as both sides have their backs to the wall, nothing of a satisfactory nature has yet been accomplished. 1 am writing this before the Coronation festivities taka place, and it is to be hoped that there will bo no foul play, although it is feared in many quarters. Aa I said a week ago, it is not so much an advance of 5 per cent, to which masters object as the insubordination oftiro workpeople, and drastic steps will have to bo taken before masters get control of their own business places. The officials of the Wooloombers’ Onion seem to bo completely helpless in controlling its members, and it is to bo regretted that nothing can be done to bring about au agreement between the respective heads of the trade. It has come to this, namely, that a master cannot stop an incompetent and abusive workman without a serious rupture, and while wo are not opjposed to men being treated in a rational way, still, what firm is going to j employ au insulting and incompetent man when better hands are available ? It lias been computed that not 10 per j cent, of the employees are in favour of | a strike, but the union officials have declared ono, and several firms who have no dispute with their operatives have been compelled to shut down. Take, for instance, the well-known firm of Messrs \V. and J. Whitehead. Up to last Monday noon they worked as usual, but notwithstanding that the firm is actually paving more in tho majority of cases than what the men arc striking for. yet, in order to save a serious conflict and prevent the works being wrecked, the mill was closed. Not a note of dissatisfaction is expressed at tho works, and tho firm lias decided to behave magnanimously to its employees by allowing each man 10s per week and each woman 7s per week-as long as the strike lasts. Mr \V. A. Whitehead lias written a letter to the press giving a list of wages paid, which are as follow; “Night combers, forty at 23s per week, ten at 2Cs, twenty at 275, two at 2Ss, nineteen at 28s Gd, two at 23s Cd, one at oils. Overlookers, one at 435. four at -12 s. Night carders, twenty-nine at 2,is, one at 2Gs. five at 275, four at 3Ss, four at 30s, two over-

lookers at 40s. During 1010, apart from statutory holidays, tho »i»ht comoera were unemployed lor ten nights, and so far this year they have only been anemployed for three nights." 1 uou t think any section of lire trade will say that tho wages being paid to woolcombors generally arc more than tuey should be, ami the masters have never asserted that the maximum has been leached, but they do aliirm that m view of tho JQ per cent, advance winch taey have received during the past two years the time is not opportune for considering another increase. "We venture to say that had tho demand been made in a proper businesslike way, and had the men not acted in such a high-handed way, favourable consideration would have bo given to their requests. A Labour leader, who is a manufacturer and a member of the Bradford Town Council, has written a letter to the local press in which ho sets forth tho balance-sheets of Woolcomberß, .Limited, which comprise over thirty branches, and also that of Messrs Isaac Holden and Sons,_ Ltd., and which no doubt offer some criterion as to the state of the woolcombmg trade. Tho following are the particulars;—

' j AVbolcombcr’s. Ltd. Holden's. _ 1 Net. profits. Divi. Net profits. Diva, i ! 1907 £28,168 lOp.c. 438,827 sp.c. 1808 £29,871 lOp.c. .£17,863 7i p.c. 1909 £39.033 lOp.c. £17,70-1 6 p.c. 1910 439,430 11 p.c. 9157,339 7 p.c. i It will bo observed that in both cnsM 1910 was a record year. It is to be hoped i that tho trouble will speedily termin--1 ate. ■INFLUENCES ON TUB TRADE. As already said. Coronation influences i have Ix-en at work during tho past week, i and there has been practically an idle 1 i market. Tvobody .seemed disposed to talk | real business, although fine topmakers I have been able to sell some fair qua.nli- , I tics of spot lots. Spinners have, been . | making provision for the worst during tho past few weeks, and all tho tops that I could bo got in bare been obtained. It I has been possible to procure in a few I cases a. -farthing more than could be j made a week ago, but spinners have not : been keen seller's, and investigation , i shows that in tho majority of oases they j can run a full mouth and some oven 1 six to eight weeks. Already tongues arc ; wagging as to what null be tho effect upon trade if the strike continues three or four weeks, but wo hardly think that i is likely to happen. .If tho. present at- ■ tempt at a settlement fails there is ccr--1 tain to he some serious rioting, and in ' the interests of humanity it is to be hoped that a peaceable and permanent agreement will bo come to during next week. Tho masters know that if they “cave in" the battle will have to be fought again at no distant date, and it might as well be fought at present without having a second beginning. TRANSACTIONS LIMITED. No new feature can bo chronicled in connection with the trade proper, all alike looking on interestedly and waiting developments. As already said, some fair sales of spot lots have taken place, principally in merinos, and where a topmaker bad 27d ibid ten days ago for an average lino of G4’s, be can . today jnalie a farthing more quite easily, though tho hulk of topmakers are quoting 271(1. There are sellers, but they cannot guarantee delivery. What spinners vari is for tho actual stuff to ; come into their places at once, and although there is at the present no prospect of users being forced into a corner, still no one is opposed to making a little provision for the future. Crossbreds too are fairly steady, but lid will to-day purchase a fair average 40 , s > prepared top. Forty-sixes can be obtained anywhere from 144-d to IGd, just according to length and character, while 50’s are saleable around ISd to 18|d, and SB’s from 21d to 22d, the demand in no sense being keen for these fine crossbred tops. Carded sorts seem to bo selling ns freely os. over. Tho quiet conditions prevailing on the Continent seem to he reflected in the present demand for topis and yams at tills end, and the best reports are not forthcoming even from Germany. There seems to be a lack of "vim" in all news coming from Prance, Germany, Austria, as well as Russia, I though we certainly think that tho "bark” of Bradford shippers is a little louder than circumstances actually •warrant when judged from the Board' of Trade returns. ROUBAIX JIANUF ACTURERS VISIT BRADFORD. Evidently Bradford at present can give its French competitors a few points in the art and science of wool manufacture, for on two separate occasions during the past six months important deputations have visited the West Riding in older to make investigations as to “how it is done." We always welcome visitors to these parts, and wo think it is o. “feather in the cap" of West Riding spinners and manufacturers when their Continental competitors come on such a miasipn of inquiry. We are told that tho, object of the visitors of the French deputations has been expressly to investigate the dyeing and finishing of fabrics, and Roubabc manufacturers realising that they are losing thoir bold on English markets, naturally : want to know the best conditions anti - charges under which they can get French mado fabrics dyed and finished in Yorkshire. We don’t suppose that 1 the Bradford Dyers’ Association will have ■ any ohj actions to /handling even foreign i made fabrics though naturally they will j give first place to homo products. Still, tho fact is significant tliat during recent years the imports of French dress ■ goods, which at cue time were a serious thorn in the side of Bradford manufac- . turers, have decreased, and wc i think they will continue to do so year by year. It is quite true that until ,a. ' few years back there was some reason for London and ‘ provincial wholesale ■ buyers assorting that French fabrics were better dyed and finished and less . liable to cockle than English - mado fabrics, but that complaint is navy entirely a thing of the past. There is being turned out to-day in the West Rid- ; ing dress equal if not superior ■ to what is being, made in any part of . the world, and for elegance of design, shade, effect, and finish they have no equal. As some indication of how Rou- ! baix manufacturers suffered last year, the following figures show the yardage and value of French stuff goods .which have been imparted into this country during recent years:— Tear. Yards. £ 190(5 76,804,595 5:369,811 1907 60,019,751 4,319,932 1 1908 50,470,995 3,828,381 1909 49,431,827 3,851,018 1910 Not available. Alteration, in Board of Trade returns. ; NEWS FROM ROUBAIX. France does not seem to have got on to its feet at all this year, and our latest nows both from lioubaix aud Tour- ■ I coing is anything but satisfactory. This i week has brought me two letters from I a leading wool house in the Bradford of ; j Franco, and I must say that what they I state does not read too well, and if i actually correct, which we have no reason ; to doubt, indicates that conditions are j not what they should be. Tbo fallowing is what our correspondent writes; “Hero business is much quieter. Everyone is doing his utmost to encourage his neighbours, but on the whole, this confidence is mere bluff. If a strike takes place in your (Bradford) combing establishments it will largely help to reduce the production of tops, and will facilitate the maintenance of prices. On tho contrary, raw wool will become more abundant, and perhaps there will be cause to fear a fall in prices in Coleman street at tbo next July sales. The stocks in tho combing establishments increased at the end of Jfay, but in June they will bo still larger. I greatly fear that the 80,000 bales which the United States have not taken this year in Australia will weigh on the European markets. England aud the Continent have already received more wool than they did last year. The next July sales in Loudon will be more important than in 1910. Briefly, we sec more arguments in favour of a decrease than an increase, much more so on account of fashion being so.vex-y prejudi-i

cial in fabrics. The 'hobble' skirt requires 2 to 3 metres of cloth whilst formerly 5 to 6 metres -were required. Owing to the fact that the summer is very warm the feminine clientele are naturally buying cotton and silk more willingly than they otherwise would do, which necessarily means a lessened demand for wool-made fabrics. Our manufacturers are complaining more and more, not only of the difficulty of keeping their machines going, but on account of the poor prices which are ruling for fabrics. It is indisputable that manufacturers have rarely witnessed such a bad time, and it is certain that all more or less are losing ’money to such an extent that they are trying to come to an agreement in order to limit production and to stop 40 to 50 per cent, of the looms. Business in wool is very quiet and transactions are limited. Prices are consequently feeling tho effects of this, and Targe trading linns are making concessions varying from 10 to 25 centimes per kilo in order to induce sales. Have you noticed that in ten days (at Brisbane 36,000 bales, Bremen 13,000 bales, Sydney 12,000 bales) there is going to be put up for sale about 65,000 bales—all merino wool? This is a large quantity. Happily you inform me of an amelioration in the United States. It is evident that if we do not have some help from that side from now onwards, a decline will bo inevitable/'