OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER

Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 8

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER

(Fkoii Ora Own Cokbzspondeht.l AMERICAN WOOL TRADE. RECORD PURCHASES IN FOREIGN MARKETS. BRADFORD, April 21. 1905. The American wool trade during the past Jiini months has been the wonder of the entire wool world, at least in producing countries, and here in Bradford. The way our Yankee cousins have bought wool here an England, Australia, and Buenos Ayres Jias' "capped" everybody, and Bradford especially is wondering what American manufacturers are going to do with it all. The very 'long" prices which were paid iowards the end of last year in Australia men here the impression that two or three had lost their heads, and we only liope that the purchases will be turned to good, profitable account. Not only were purchases made in Australia in excess of past years, but here in Bradford and in Buenos Ayres purchases have been the highest since the record days of the "free wool" Wilson tariff. A well-known Ant,*werp wool house — Messrs G. and O. Kreg- ! linger— have sent to their Bradford repre- | tentative particulars of the shipments of ■wool from South American ports_to date to ihe United States, and the following will t he read with inteiest by many readers: — — Argentine Republic— < Bales. Bales. 1904-5 », 252,503 to U.S.A. direct .. 26,020 1903-4 as 218,860 „ „ „ .. 10,680 Increase 16,249 — Uruguay.—. Bales. Bales. •1904-5 .. 37,902 to U.S.A. direct „* 5158 1903-4 ,r., r . 31,050 „ „ „ aj.. 197 Increasa 4051 In commenting on the imports of wool lend woollen goods recently, the American TWool and Cotton Reporter called attention to the decided increase in the imports of "the raw material, and at the same time ihe absence of any increase in the importations of manufactures of wool. The im"jports of wool for the month of January Reached the large aggregate of 25,997,5101b. tor about 15,000,0001b in excess of those of ifoe sairw month in 1904, snd about -8,000,0001b in excess of those of the month of December, 1904, the figures for the last named month being 17,260,0631b, making %he total imports for flit* two months, December and January, 42,267,5821b. I The returns for the month of February, 3.905, which have come to hand during the past week, again reveal a very marked in- , creage in importations of wool as comjpai-ed 4

with those of February, 1904, the total being nearly 30,000,0001b, or, to be more exact, 29,103,2101b, which amount is about 13,000,00&lb greater than that of February, 1904-. This is an enormous volume of wool imports for on© month, and brings the total for the three months — December, January, and February — up to the very large aggregate of more than 71,000,0001b, as against 97,890,1761b for the corresponding portion of the previous fiscal year. With four more months yet to hear from before the end of the current fiscal year, there is every indication that the total wool imports for the 12 months will exceed, by a wide margin, those of any fiscal year | since the era of free wool. The figures for the eight months compare with those of the corresponding period? for the past few

1901 „- , o ... 60,781,332 { Importations of goods for the month of February were not radically different from these of February, 1904-, but for tbe eight montlw ending February 28 they show adecrease as co-npared with the corresponding time in 190?-, also as compared with 1903 and 1902, a? will be seen from the following table ;—

Tha comparatively stationary movement in goods imports in the past fe\v years is sufficiently indicative of the increasing hold which American manufactures have upon the home markets in view of iho substantial increase in their population and their increased consumption of goods since 1902, which means an increased production by domestic mills to meet the nerds of their people and a corresponding increase in the consumption of raw material by American , mills. This, :'n turn, means inevitably, an increased consumption _ there of foreign wool, &3 the domestic clip gives no evidence of any substantial enlargement. It is doubtful if the domestic clip this year, judging from latest advices received from the interior, shows any noticeable increase. A FIRMteR, FEELING IN MERINOS. The last two market days in Bradford has shown a spirit more akin to business than we have seen for a while back, and signs are not wanting that things are mending. The improvement generally is in fine erossbreds and merinos, and business is better to do. Liverpool sales last Friday sent buyers back to Bradford feeling that the raw material still showed signs of

strength, and tha-t prices were not as wea as some had been trying to make ou Merinos especially seemed to be occupyir a strong position, and it is patent to a that we are going to see no falling o in either price or consumption. If an; thing, a shade more can be had for goo super 60's tops, though 24£ d will still by a good standard combing. This is an in provemjnt on anything that has been r< cently ra.ide, although topmakers have bee pressing hard for this figure for thro weeks back. Some seem to think th£ America is in the market again for fin merinos, but America is wanting moi good 46's to 60's quality, and it is th: class of material that is selling the bes The most encouraging sign in regard t fine wools is the increasing tendency a the consumptive end of the trade, th popular ieelir.g being to push these th mo?t. There is manifest a growing inquir for fine fabrics lx>_th in men s and women' materials, and this is manifesting itself i: a freer movement of both tops and yarns which is accountable largely for wool goin, more into consumption. It is certain tha next series in London will see a full con tini:anoe of last series prices for anythini c above 46's quality, and possibly a fractioi more for good carding wools. Low erossbreds are by far the weakes article on the market, and 40's tops ir worth no more than 13d, it being possibL for a mm to supply all his wants at thi price. There is a fair quantity of cardei tops being sent to the Continent, and botl 32's and 36's are worth all about as mucl as *o's. Irish wools are not moving 61 very well, bub are firm at lid for hogs Very few lots indeed are available, and thi new clip is being awaited with considerable interest. Mohair continues to be very slow but tha feeling is still very hopeful abou the future of Ibis article. Talking things ii general, there is some improvement on th< recent depressed feeling, and after the Holi days it is considered that we shall see mor< trade doing. The home tiad© generally 1 better, and this is an encouraging sign Machinery, if anything, is better employed

light montl ending February 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901 •* jr. Imports of Alaiiufactures of Wool, dol. 11,950,445 13,411,101 13,720,089 12,235,404 10,686,803

years as tolJows: — Eight months ending Feb. 1905 .„ .* 1904 .., ,► 1903 Jfl ,ji 1902 „: i», Ml "Wool Imporfsi lbs. 138,516,117 97,890,176 196,034,611 40,602,038