OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2356, 20 April 1899, Page 6

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

THE FUTURE OF WOOL-GROWING. (From Our Si'kciai, Correspondent.) BRADFORD, February 17. The altered conditions and circumstances under which the business of grazing and v/oolgrowing is carried on at present, as compared with the old and fast disappearing squatting days in our colonies, suggest the question of how the above named pursuit can be made to pay bettor? No one in his tenses can doubt that this industry affect 1 ), directly or indirectly, the whole population of our colonies, and their prosperity or otherwise is therefore a matter of vital importance both to those whose capital is invested in it, to the army of workers who are dependent' upon the emDloyment lh.ua afforded them for their

means of living, and also to the very large number of people engaged -in business of all kinds, who make their profit by supplying' the various plant and material requirea to carry on the business of wool-growing. Several altered conditions to-day demand fresh movements, such as for inßtance increasing expenses in working land, higher rentals', and various taxes, and contributions levied upon stock-owners. These facts^clearly point to the urgent necessity for- improving tha payable qualities- of stock so that they, may by a large return per head prove & set-off against the reduction in. numbers and in> creased expense of management. II must Ba conceded that the net money return, per sheen is to be regarded as the true test for prof& table qualities in a flock, and not tha price 1 per lb obtained for the clip. This latter ia often very misleading, and. has tempted many sheep-breeders to their ruin. It is welL known) that some of the highest-priced wool produced in "Victoria and elsewhere is shorn from, most unprofitable flocka, the wool making a. high; figure per lb owing to its light* dry condition and consequent good yield in scouring, though a clip fetching say 2d per lb less} may probably show a better return per- head owing to the much greater quantity produced., The extra profit obtained say from 50,000; sheep by improving them to the- extent o£ lib more wool per head of Id per lb bettervalue, a result by no means, difficult of attainment in the majority of flocks, represents a substantial annual sum very acceptable to most pastoralists. and a sum which would surprise nli those who have not yet taken the trouble to reckon it up. What,, then, could we expect from the general improvement of the flocks, say of Australia, to tho extent indicated? it is only a question, of figures to arrive at tho approximate re.suit, and though a great many of those engaged in pastoral pursuits, like the historical boundary-rider, have no opinion of figures, we must still attach a certain amount of weight to them.

In yenrs gono by, when new country was being continually taken up and stocked, and when, owing to the extension of tho railways and consequent cheapening of carriage, it beciimo possible to turn cattle- runs into sheen, stations, the first point to be aimed at was the placing of a sufficient number of sheep, on tho country, numbers being everything and quality quit© a secondary consideration. It was also difficult, if not impoesible, then to Ret really good sheep to start with, the number of such bein«r small, und tho owners reluctant to part with them except nfc fancyprice';. Now, however, tho ease is different, tho countries being nearly stocked up, and except for the decimation of the flocks by diouifht or flood* in certain districts, almost overstocked, and really good, sheep are to bo got by anyone willing to pay a slight ad-vanee-*on tho ordinary market; rato of. stora stock. One thing is certain, and that is thab m view of tho largely increasing- cost of rearing find feeding stock it will no longer pay as it did onco in Australia to breed and keep stock for their tallow and skins only. Wo may assume, then, that as regards tho flocks of a largo part of Australasia and Soutli Africa an improved return is neceßgnry m mnny crimes and desirable in nil that they may continue to bo kept at a. profit. The great question is, " How, and by whnt means, aro we to artiyo at this improvement? " On, tbi* point opinions aro many* and various. Sonio men of long experience and great reputation ns judges of stock and stations tell us that quantity is tho thing; no matter what tho wool ia like so long as there- in plenty of ir. Others again,, whose opinions aro perhaps worthy of ns much nitfnticn. will say that quality pays better even with a lesa yield. Striking tho average between rhe two, it seems that good wool and plenty of it perhaps expresses as well as anything the standard desired by all. Its attainment depends upon tho breeding of a belter class of stock, tho bestowing upon them of more caro and attention, and llio careful avoidanco oE overstocking, tin* last being a constant source of disaster in bud sennonf.

WOOL STEADY AND TIB 3d. Tho position of wool remain* pr.icfcicallyunchanged from last week. Perhaps the mast pronounced feature in tho market is tbp general absence of waak spotw, though some users are all alive to entertain offers,, particularly merino men who uro wanting to unload. Still il-erd ifj ?n increase- of confidence in the future of fine wools, and tho slightly easier stato of thct I market i» if anything departing. This is owing to topmaker3 distinctly realising that every market and pourco of buying are as firm: as a rock, and they bco no wisdom in selling cither For immediate- delivery or contracting forward unless they on obtain late ratsp* There in, therefore, a tendency not to push sales, unless men are willing to pay full prices, and some encouragement to hold firmly is to be found in the frequency of inquiry that one meet 3 with. Of course spinneis are trying to make tho best of tho lato easier feolj inc^ but things all round with the exception of low cros-sbrec's are firm and sound. A srood many topmaJcers arc at present out o£ tho market simply because tho results of thpir blends at tho combs aro not out, and they do not feel disposed to sell until they cans obtain some reliable basis on which to work. Ho whilo spinners aro wanting to buy at a farthing less, they find their usual men not ready to offer, the latter firmly believing in the ultimate return of values to the lato highest level. Fine crospbreds seem to be almost impregnable. Prices commensurate with tho cost are obtainable for tops, but lower qualities have declined a farthing, and all English sorts show a downward tendency.. For mohair there is a returning inquiry in fine- qualities and prices are fully maintained.. The order* from the Continent for yarns aro still of a very disappointing character, heing; only for small parcels of a very mixed kind.. Particulars have, however, been rather mora freely given for the Homo trade which promises further improvement. The Homo trade continues fairly activo, and as spinners aro busy they are not anxious for new busineSß at current rates. The piece trada is not over-brisk excepting for special, fancies, but there is reported /noro inquiry from America. Actual business, however, is slow.