OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, 1 June 1910, Page 8

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

fsou Our Special Correspondent.} BRADFORD, April 15, 1910. THE BUSINESS OP "WOOLCOMBING. Wool-combing is to-day a large business, and inseparable from the wool trade. The latter could never have assumed its present dimensions or been half so- successful if wool-combing had not been known, but the more one thinks of how one dovetails into the other the more astounding do things become. One gets so 'customed to speaking about the woollen tiv.de that they forget the important part wool-combing plays in. the wool industry, and without doubt th"'t branch stands paramount. Wool-combing dates back to the very earliest of days, and yet wool carding, out of which is made woolien fabrics, is a long way the oldestindustry. I make mention of these facts because at present the wool trade is confronted with a new scale for combing, which naturally is- not liked. At the same time it is surprising the few complaints that have been heard over the increased charges. The most grumbling has been about various firms comprising a syndicate known, -as Woolccm'bers (Ltd.) having intimated that the new scale will come into operation on May 1, the general feeling being that August 1 was soon enough. The increased charges for wool-combing are the direct outcome of the increased prices of materials, such articles as scap. oil, leather, etc., all having advanced considerably, but what has brought things to a head is the advance of 6d and Is i.n wages to the woo'-combing operatives—an advance which nobody has found fault with. Before dealing with this latter side of the question, I will set forth the proposed new scale, and also show the charges under the old' S'«.'e : NEW COMBING TARIFF AS FROM MAY 1, 1910. MERINOS. (All above 56's quality.) New Scale. Old Scale.' Per lb. Per lb.

Scouring wools, |d per lb of washed wool. All previous list and arrangements cancelled. Without saying one word in disparagement of the wool-combing industry, it has been an acknowledged fact for years that the operatives have been very poorly paid, and: both in public and private much has been said about the noverty-stricken returns which work (people have received. It should be borne in mind that the various operations connected with the trade have to be performed in rooms heated anywhere from 90 to 100 degrees, the work being trying and somewhat exhausting, more on account of the heat than any physical or manual operation. A few years back quite a stir was created in the West Riding over a series of articles p\iven to a London magazine on "The White Slaves of England,", the wool-oombiixg industry coming in for a fair share of attention. Just to give readers a fair idea of what is paid wool-combing operatives. I quote from the issue of the Factory Times of January 8, 1897, a table of wages obtaining in one of the best firms in Bradford. The Special Commissioner of. the paper stated emphatically that "it is by no means an average one," and since then 6d and Is increase will cover any improvement that has taken place, with the exception of the advance just given.: TABLE OF WAGES.

Strippers and grinders (men, each of whom has to attend 12 cards and two grinders), jobbers: Men, night £1 2s f<.r 11 Botany cards or 6 English; day turn HI for the p.r.me quantity Of machinery. C&:d by b-.;/per and hand: Men,

ISs for six cards at night; woman, 12s for six cards at day. Back-end minders by bailing nead or coder cans: Men. at night 19s for six English cards and 18s for 11 Botany; women, day 12s for six English cards, and 12s for 11 Botany. Burr takers-out (men) ICs for 11 cards at night, and 14s for 11 cards at day. Shoddy willeyers (men) ISs. Wool runners (men) £1 for 11 cards at night, 18s for 11 cards at day. Backwash minders, and number of backwashers each person b.os to attend to: Men, £1 for one backwash and strong box (night); 12s ditto (day). £ s. d.

A STEADY BUSINESS PASSING. There is not much new to say in connection with the wool trade, all the sound features noted in our past reports continuing. More business could be done if spinners and manufacturers were not so well bought, but it is evident that in the majority of cases they are covered for many months to come, and are content to take in deliveries in preference to buying further ahead. There is no question of a doubt about merinos being- high and dear, and yet nobody anticipates or can see the least sign of lower prices. The question of supplies is still absorbing a lot of attention, and there is not too much fine wool in prospect to cause any uneasiness about rates. Plenty are raying- that it will not be long before we see super 60's tops at half-a-crown, and that we are going to have a higher range of values than we have seen since 1899. The recollection of what then took place makes one shudder, and it is to be hoped that we are not going to see & repetition of the disastrous consequences which followed that boom. There certainly is a feeling abroad of cautiousness which cannot but check any tendency towards boom prices, and nobody is eo foolish as to adopt a policy of pure speculation. Where men have bought for-w-ard it is to cover the business they have, and values to a very large extent are resting upon a legitimate consumptive basis. Merinos are still the leading commerce, and one cannot but regret that coarse and medium orcssbreds are not sharing some of the activity and buoyancy of merinos. It remains to be seen if the strong position • of fine wools can influence crossbreds, and there is no doubt, that the lack of confidence in 36's and 40's is in a large measure the real cause of these wools being sknv and inactive. Prices for

merinos are still tending upwards, and 64's tops are to-day being generally quoted at 2s sd. Fine crossbreds are selling fairly well, and a by no means unprofitable time is being experienced by topmakers. Business is good ail round', and there is plenty of spinning being dene both in 50's and 56's. Coarse qualities still hang; fire, and nothing beter can be reported. It is quite true that here and there a fraction less would be taken for both 36's and 40's, the quotations of topmakere being more or less nominal. Mohair is slow, and prices are just about steady, although a hand-to-mouth business is passing.

d. «- Tearing, 5 to 1 and ox Tearing, 4 and under -i 2 5 to 1 01. 21 Tearing, 3 and under 4 to 1 21 2J Tearing, 2 and under 3 to 1 3 Under 3 to 1 Tearing, under 2 to 1 31 Special arrangement | extra Gilling in .. .. J fextra CARDING CROSSBREDS. 56's u 18 J extra. Gilling in J extra Tearing, 7 to 1 and over If All 51 ) r s 1| Tearing, under 7 to 1 li Burring i extra Gilling in \ extra 36's to 46's— Tearing, 8 to 1 and Tearing , 6 to 1 and over U over li Tearing, under 8 to 1 11 ■ &• extra Gilling in .. \ extra PREPARING. 32's, 36's, 40's u 1 Over 40's H 1 Slipe and. skin wools •J extra. 1 Burry and seedy wool i extra Gilling in J extra

W&shhouse (men only) during tbe night— £ s. d. Bowl, minders, three bowk .. m 1 2 0 Bowl minders, feeders .. .«. «., 0 18 0 During the Day— Bowl minders, three howls ..< «. 1 o 0 Bowl minders, feeders ,. .. .. OHO

Finishing box minders, men (day) English (4 boxes) 0 19 0 0 18 (! Women (day), English (4 b ;xes) .. 0 12 0 Women (day), medium (2 boxes) .. 0 12 0 Comb minders, men (night), English 1 3 0 1 2 0 1 0 0 Women (d.ay), English (for 2 combs) 0 14 0 0 12 6 0 12 6 Strong gill box minders, men (night), 0 18 0 0 18 0 0 19 0 Women (day), English 0 12 0 0 12 0 Making-up box minders, men (night) 0 18 0 Making-up box minders, women (day) 0 12 0 Men jobbers (night), English 1 6 0 Men jobbers (night), Botany .. 1 4 0 Men jobbers (day), English 1 0 0 Men jobbers (day), Botany 1 0 0 One man taking noils and cans out 1 0 0