OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2206, 11 June 1896, Page 6

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

(From Our Special Corbesposdent.) j Bradford Apiil 17. THE BRANDING OF JH.EECES. j "With frequent characteristic occurrence*, the objectionable and injurious practice followed out both by English and colonial sheep-farmers of tn'-markiug their tbe»p comes in for strong cendemnfction on the patt of every section of j the wool-consumirg trade. Bradford repeatedly during the past few joais hns epoken p!am> and now Halifax waxes eloquent in deLOuaeing the practice. The following important letter fr. m the largest carpet manufacturers in the world, Messrs John Crossiey and Sons (Limited), has recently been addressed lo the Halifax Chamber of Commerce :—": — " We device to draw the attention of the chamber to the very serious drawbacks that occur to spinners and manufacturers owing to the use of tar and 1 similar substances in the marking of bheep. A large quantity of wool is consumed in the manufacture of carpets, and possibly also in other branches, which does not undergo the process of sorting ; and although employees are cautioned to exercise due care and vigilance to take out tar-marked wool tbey may discover, yet it irequantly happens that tar marks in small quiutitics pass through into finished goods and lead to complaints which occasionally result in formidable claims for compensation. " What we desire is that pressure should be brought to bear, say, through the Board of Agriculture to induce farmer* to adopt same other method of identification ; or, if 'marking' is to be adhered to, then in that case some substance should be used which, whilst being capable of outliving the ordinary conditions of weather in the open, would yet yield to and become dissolved by the regular process of wool■washing. The value of wool under the new conditions now suggested would be considerably enhanced so far as regards tho ; e districts where tar-marking is in vogue, and we are confident the change would be welcomed by all who have such wools pissing through their hands." There is no doubt that the Messrs Crossley have voiced again a Bubjoob th<*.t needs immediate tackling by every wool-grov.er, both at home and abroad. If everyone using tar could see the ih*mefu\ sn>l permanent disfigurement they are omsing to the fWce, it would at once and for ever ba discarded by every •beep-farmer. One has only to remember that a fleece once tarred is tarred for ever. No amount of washing in either chemicals or eoap can remove it, aud even boiling the wool fiuds the tar as firmly fixed as ever after removal from the bath. L:t us try in thought to conduct a sheep-farmer through a stage or two through wh'ch hia wool paises for him to see the dire results of Lis tarred fleece. We have received at the farmer's hands a bale of bis golden fleeces, and the same

is opened at the beginning of the wool- washing operation. The flWces are here found all mixed together, and the wool- washer having set the scouring machine in motion and prepared the bah bfgins bij work. In he throws handful after handful of wool to be cleansed <f Us dirt and grt ase, the wol being knocked about consider* b!y in 'the process of washing. By a mechanical operation the wool is carried forward to the other end of the e couring machine, where it is delivered white and clean. But as we stand aud examiue the Ecoured wool we are amazed at Feeing it sprinkled over with black bits. "What's thi» ?" we ask in aotouishment; and a careful examira ion will roy« al tha sad fact tbat a few of the fleeces have been tarred, and in the process of washing have become all mixed with the rest and spoiled the lot. This.iß no imagiuary picture, bub one which can be'eorroborated by every handler of wool in the process of manufacture. But perhap3 some reader sajs, " Why not sort the wool and remove all the tarred fl<ec6s ? " Ton would not only cause txfcm expense, but s'.iii leave the tarred fleeces on hand, and then what, could be done with them except clipping t/ff tlie tarred cuds ? No mattsr how these tarred fletc s are dealt with, ithey are very troublesome and exp&ative and give rise to endless bother. A strong discussion took place after the reading of this letter, feveral woolmen in tho mectjpg giving expreßMoa to the injurious effects of tar, which had come recently under their own personal notice. Surely loth E lglish and colonial sheep-farmers by udug tar are makiog a Issh for their own backs, for it must be reniembared that if a buyer on examining wool with the object of baying finds the least evidence of tar bsaids in the bale it is tha signal for him to leave it alone, thus reducing ci mpttition for it. If eht'ep mutt b3 marked fur iJeulification, cannot farn)e r s make use of their heads and leavo intpct the money-produdflg part of their fleece ? This is a question meriting the personal attention of the small as well as the large holder of sheep, and oftentimes a certificate guaranteeing the clip free from tar brands would command a fi action more per lb. WOOL MARKET QUIET. The most that can be said of tho Bradford trade is that things move " giogorly." Ilulders have not to coufider what thoy wsuld like in the shape of profit on thtir sales, and absolute satisfaction is an element altogether foreign lo Wors'edopolis. In •ufficiei>t business has been done to define prices on most grades, but no material change from the late fractional drop is expected. Qualities of standard inak<j are fairly steady in jalue, notwithstanding slight weaknesses on minor lines. The production of tops is not heavy, and as goods which utilise them are still in large consumption, the demand srould readily absotb them at present rates. Every effort is deing made by both agents and mannfactutera to add to the comparatively Ismail business wlrch has already been t ecured, and this i» beßt evidenced by the large number of new line 3of wool-made goods which are being placed upon the market. One very favourable itam which gives to the market a seiuible help is the present low condition of stock*. In no department is there any wii^ht of stuff, and consumption for raw materials keeps up remarkably well. In merinos, if anything, there has of lafee betn the leist doing, the slackened demand foe worsted coatings telling against them. Incrcusbreds, the attitude of lustrous fabric*, coupled with the strong support which comes from plain dyed rough materials of a serge character, gives additional strength to their continued well-being, and everything points io another mccessful season in those goods where crossbred wools will play an important parb. Those who profess to be in the know, aud who generally have some self-iuterest to consider, have caused their wool-casts to be issued already, and their charts respecting the next series of the London sales can be interpreted to mean that values will be lower. However, men here see no reason to be hoodwinked with this early prophecy, and hold strongly to their present quotations. In English wools ths same features characterise the market". If anything, lustre hogs are better to sell, but other descripbious lack buoyancy and life. Mohair still keeps very steady, although transactions are light. Yarn-apinners still indicate little or no deficiency in the matter of work, although they could treat fresh orders with alacrity. Home manufacturers keep very busy, bub those dependent on shippers still look blue over scarcity of ordois.