OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2985, 31 May 1911, Page 16

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

ATbom Our Special Cokkesfondent.) BRADFORD, April 14.. ORANGE RIVER COLONY WOOLS. At ther eeent series of London sales there was ottered the finest show of wools from the Cuange River State that has ever yet come to London, and great interest was manifested in the tanners clips. Many ot them had been very well got up, and competition was better than 1 have seen lor many a long day. I am certain that Soxith. Africa as a whole has made rapid strides during the "past two years in wool produo tion, and buyeis have in no sense tailed to appreciate the ertorts which are being made to produce something really good. 1 have said for a long time that eheep farmers in the Orange River Colony have been' in the van in the production ox wool, and what they are doing is certainly meeting with .the' approbation of the trade at this end. I have known South African wools for over 20 yearns, and have followed with great interest the vicissitudes of the wool trade of that rw«rt of Great Britain's domain. There have always been a few who took a pride in their clips, and produced a satisfactory staple; but unfortunately they were the exception, and not the rule; and even to-day, notwithstanding the advance which has been made, there is yet room for a vast improvement by the rank and file of wool-growers. At the same N time a special word of praise is due to the farmers of the Orange River Colony for stepping out and manifesting a determination to rise to the occasion. No.better think could possibly have been done than the importation of thousands. of stud stock from Australia, and the new blood is undoubtedly telling for good upon the character of the wools which are at oreeent being produced. • Up to lid was paid at the recent series of auctions for the best clips, and although this may seem but an average price in the eyes of Australian pastoralists, still lOd and lid cannot be despised for South African wools. I am satisfied that no section of South Africa will ever produce wool equal to some of the clips which are grown both in South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland; but when condition is taken into consideration both the Capef Orange River Colony, Transvaal, and Natal can grow a very acceptable staple, and which probably will give as good a return per sheep as the rank and file flocks oi Australia. It is quite right getting a big price per lb for a little lot of super combing from sheep which are cutting light-grown fleeces, but what a grower wants above everything else is a good average all through, that principle telling its' tale the best in the long run. There are one or two points which are well worth mentioning, and which are applicable to wool-growing, both in Aus tralia, South Africa, and the River Plate —in fact, everywhere where sheep are kept. I have repeatedly seen it asked in the public press, besides having many letters from South African correspondents, the reason why Australian merinos fetch pence per lb more than South African wools of the same quality. lam certain that upon this head many misconceptions prevail. It is all right enough to speak about West Victorian grease wools commanding, say, 16d per lb, and the best Cape wools only lid. On paper the 5d difference looks a lot, and makes one think that there is something radically wrong. with the latter. It is here that several South African pastoraliste are committing a fatal error, or rather an error of ignorance. If I could possibly put before the reader, say, a pound sample of South African wool alongside one from West Victoria, he would see at once the reason for the difference in price. The West Victorian parcel will probably give a clean yield of 54 to 55 per cent., while the South African, sample will pTobably give more like 45 to 16 per cent. The former will be suitable for the American trade, where on account of light shrinkage a buyer can afford to pay oftentimes >at least Id per lb more than can the home trade. These will also be a better length, and softer handle; in fact, the character of the Victorian clip will be altogether higher than that of the South African staple.. I unhesitatingly say again that quality for quality, and condition for condition, South African wool will to-dav sell at the same price as the rank and file clips from Australia. The bulk of the wools grown in the Commonwealth are not fetching above lOd to per lb, while a clip making, say, from 12d to 16d has something about it of a superior character which I don't think can ever be got in any quarter of South Africa.

I am glad to be able to say. that the "ideal" of the South African" sheep farmer is a very different one from 10 years ago, a<nd the progressive measures which have been taken in the Orange River Colony are meeting with the approval of buyers at this e<nd. What the "trade object® to is a continuance of the obsolete methods of wool-growimof and the get-up for market of the wool which has so lonig been in voerue in. South Africa, and to findi farmers rolling in their fleeces britoh, skirt, and heavy bellies is what will never meet with the approval of anyone. Moire skirting is being done to-day. in South Africa than formerly, and yet there is room for improvement. No'"""doubt.' time will still see

further developments upon ifchis head, and I am certain that more people to-day are prepared to buy Oape wools. During the past few months there has been a great demand, for Cape tops, and oftentimes they have sold at id to id more than Australian tops of the same quality, due entirclv to their fine spinning quality'. What' the trad© is most concerned about at this end. is the production of a good line of wool, and' if the condition is not up to that of Australian wool, that doesn't matter a great deal, providing we have a 12 months grown staple, and the fleeces are prepared for market in a business-like way. MERINOS STILL MOUNTING. The market during the past week has continued to show signs of improvement, and there is no gainsaying the fact that things _ are better. For three weeks in succession I have had to advise advancing prices, and when, I say that 64's Australian, and Oape tops, which could be bought at 25j>d a month ago, are to-day standing: firm at 27d, and in many cases 27id and 27id, the reader can see that the rise has been sharp. Many 'seem to think that the advance is a little too quick, and that the business done has been a little beyond reason. I said during the course of the last London sales that some speculative buying was being indulged in, and I arn more convinced than ever of that fact. The same line of action has been seen during the past three weeks, all because of a growing belief that prices for both merinos and crossbreds are going to be no lower this side of next October. The active markets that we have seen are the direct outcome of a general feeling of confidence which is everywhere manifest. The temerity, lethargy, and fear which were so much in evidence in January and February have completely gone, and to-day there is_ a healthy optimism which is indeed highly creditable. Here, we have the prime cause for the past week's activity, topmakers having- done iso well as to raise their prices another id to Ad. I don't think in many cases more than 27d has been actually made for a good M's top, but to-day many firms are demanding 27id and and if the experience of the past few weeks counts for anything, it will bo seen that the prices asked to-day will actually be sale prices next week. This continued activity in tops is largely the outcome of further important, yarn sales, it being noteworthy that home trade manufacturers have placed contracts and bought largely for future requirements. In addition'to large transactions on home account, export yarn houses have also bought on a most liberal scale; indeed, Bradford spinners have now sufficient orders on their books to see every spindle fully run to the end of the year, providing "particulars" come in at all freely. , POSITION OF CROSSBREDS. "What remarks have been made respecting merinos can also be applied to crossbreds. This week has again seen placed considerable new business in practically all qualities of crossbreds, fine descriptions being bought freely by the hosiery trade, medium carded sorts on export account, while coarse descriptions have also sold largely, both on home and export account. Wte are satisfied that the sales effected have been largely inspired by the knowledge that the trade is going to.be supplied with Less crossbred wool than expected from New Zealand. In Dalgety's monthly particulars, which were published last Saturday, they show a decrease of 25,000 bales in the exports from the Do-

minion, while there is very little likelihood 1 of the River Pk-te exceeding its export of I last year. This fact is quite sufficient to show everyone that if there is a continuance of to-day's consumption there are no j more crossbrods available than the trade | can easily absorb, and I am certain that ah j alike have boon making provision for the : future fully satisfied that they have no-, thing to gain by keeping orders in their j pockets. The clip from New Zealand this year is distinctly disappointing, and this in a large measure is responsible for the sudden change which has taken place. If America had been in the market as a keen buyer, then values would have been sti.t higher, but 40's tops at 14d to 14£d can in no sense, be called cheap. However, the.ro. is little to indicate that the American j sections will be large buyers just yet, the , latest reports from across the Atlantic . being anything but satisfactory. j