OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3029, 3 April 1912, Page 16

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

(From Our Special Correspondent.) BRADFORD, February 16. ' T\SM\NIAN WOOLS AND THEIR " CHARACTERISTICS. The incoming Australian mail brings a full account ol the sales which took place las. January at Hofoart and Launceston, and evidently #>me very good prices were realised. Tnis is a matter of considerable moment to the trade, and even to woolgrowers it is not without some significance. There is no doubt that the first consideiation with sheep-breeders is a financial one, and to be able to produce an animal which will yield the largest possible profit, is the goal "of all sheep-breeders the wide world over. No sensible business man can grumble at such a policy being in vogue ; but. wool men are a set of individuals who often cry out-in fact, it is their nature to indulge in adverse criticism. Hence, no surprise need be felt at the fre.ment complaints which are heard respecting lasinanian wool, many finding fault at the rapid decrease In the numbers of merinos and the increase of crossbreds. No doubt sheepmen are able to give a very satisfactory reason for the change that has come over the scene, and instead of complaining, I suppose they will be satisfied with their present iine of action. Still, there is something to be said from a wool standpoint, particularly in regard to the decreasing 'supply of* merino wool from the ' tight little island." Whatever sheep-breeders may say to the contrary, Tasmania has made for itself a brilliant name for its merino stud sheep, and it will be a thousand pities if those who have been responsible for bringing Australian merino wool to its present standard of perfection relinquish the breeding of the fine-woolled animal It may be all right for the rank ami file to go in for the everlasting crossbreds, but I repeat that it will be a serious matter in more centres than one for those v bo yield to the influence of the crossbred craze. There is absolutely no need for any to cease breeding that class of sheep which has made their clips renowned, and this has certainly exercised a beneficial influence upon many a flock throughout the Commonwealth. Tasmanian wool excels in many leading characteristics, and it would be a hard contest if two or three leading Tasmanian merino sheepmen were to exhibit fleeces alongside a few from West Victoria. Probably the latter would win, but the former would not be far behind the Victorian clips. On the whole the last-named would give a better clean yield, but as regards quality, softness of handle, and real spinning property, I should say that there would be six of one and half a dozen of the other. There are two or three West Victorian clips which, as tho Yorkshire men say, Mould *pin any length, and there are two or three Tasmanian brands of wool which would not be a great deal behind, if any. However, Tasmanian wool is so excellent '.n character that it is quito good enough to meet the most fastidious demands of the trade, and all buyers have very much regretted that Tasmania is not a larger island and capable of producing a hundredfold more wool than it is doing. However, we have to make tho host out of the quantity of wool available, and to some extent the smallness of the clips helps to make what is grown all the more appreciated by members of the trade. LEADING CHARACTERISTICS. Looking minutely at Tasmania*! wools, we are impressed first of all with Hie excellent quality of the merinos grown. Usually we get n very nice, satisfactory quality, n few of the leading characteristics being superb. After all, quality tells its own tale, and I am more convinced than I ever that many South Australian clips I would be more noted if they were a trifle j finer. It is all right trying to evolve a sheep that, will give a big handful of wool, and so produce what are known as I "bale-fillers," but at the same time if a clip, on being turned cut, fails fo call forth the attention of the whole buying trade, then prices are bound to suffer. Let no reader misunderstand my meaning. I am now advocating a return fo the production of sheep which will grow fleeces of 70's to %'s quality and of short clothing length ; but I do press the > oint that a good standard of quality is rtil! most acceptable to the trade. I should certainly be more pleased if the same standard of quality could be obtained in some of the Middle and Lower North wools which are grown in South Australia as in that which comes from the south-eisfern portion of the same State; but, of cour'-e, I cannot say whether this is a physical impossibility or not. There is no doubt that climate" and pasturage play an imp >rt&nt part in determining the quality of fleeces, but, after all, the trade demands at least a medium quality wool. Unfortunately some of tho Tasmanian fleeces which once enjoyed considerable repute cannot to-day be compared

with what they wore 10 vears ago, and instead of the soft, silk-like handle of a 70 s quality, the sheep have been allowed to degenerate so scrioush- as to produce a strong, fluffy, wiry staple. What several lasmanian (locks kick to-day is uniformity of fleece, and this is a feature which I would impress upon pastoralists all over the world. The fleece of wool that is fine at the bottom of tha staple, and deprecates in quality towards the tip, with the fibres as straight as a pipe stem, shows that there is much lacking, and this is a,n important point which needs to be carefully borne in mind by all sheep-breeders. Tasmanian wools are seldom tender. On the other hand, in Yorkshire phraseology, 'they are as sound as a bell." The reader IS certain to know that out of tender wool it is impossible to produce a satisfactory top, yarn or piece, and tender wool in a woven fabric always makes a poor article. . avo . °^ en scc » pieces returned as "cold pig'" simply because they were tender. To produce a sound article wool-users must have sound raw material to start with. There are no more eager buyers of Tasmanian wool than makers of army and police cloths, particularly of the former. I could name half a dozen West Riding firms of woollen manufacturers who compete very keenly for Tasmanian wools when they are offered in London during the May' and July series of sales, simply because" they then lay in part stock in "order to cover their wants for the remainder of the year. Of couise. some wools go for topmaking, but very few of them are merinos, for the reason already named, it being well known that a woollen manufacturer can always give a better price than a topmaker can." Tasmanian fleeces also come a verv good colour, which is always an important" factor in determining the price of any wool. A good colour means that the wool can be dyed to any shade, and in these days when there are so many delicate tints wanted in the textile world, whiteness of fibre and absence of yellow stains is a very acceptable point. As a rule, Tasmanian merinos are a. little fatty, but that never interferes with the washing operation, for yolk in wool is a feature that can always be dealt with in a very easy manner, soap and water being a ready cleansing agent. A soft handle is also a valuable characteristic in all wools, and this important feature is always present in Tasmanian produce. I think it is on account of this that cloth-makers gay Tasmanian produce is a good second to Victorian wool; and there is no doubt that not only do we get a sound, well-made article, but also a soft, silk-like handle which is always appreciated in woollen or worsted goods. Turning to wool condition, I am unforare present the same characteristics that are found in merino, with the. exception of quality. Of course, that varies considerably according to the number of crosses, but the Tasmanian comebacks are highly prized by spinners of fine hosiery yarns, solely because they are found to be almost as fine as merinos. A SLOW MARKET. Turning to wool conditions I am unfortunately compelled to report the continuance of a slow time. Everybody appears to be " slack-set up," and spinners are unwilling to anticipate the future. It appears as if the majority .are well able to run to the end of March with the contracts they fixed up some time ago, and naturally they want to see a lower range of values. 'The majority are singing in a very low tone and complaining bitterly at the absence of yarn business. Still all merino frames are i mining, though probably in a few cases they are running to stock —in fact, we know they are; but the same experience has been seen before, and in the aggregate consumption is well maintained. Yet the call is for lower prices, and users seem to be more persuaded than ever that we shall see 64's obtainable at 24d to 24£d. That is the basis of values upon which the majority have made up their minds to buy on future accounts. Things are really no worse than they were a week ago; but that is not raying a great deal. What we want most of all is some new yarn orders, and until they come, we are afraid that we shall not witness any renewed activity. There is a good deal of grumbling at trade not being brisk, but no doubt those interested in keeping down values are fiddling on these strings for all they are ; worth. At the same time, there is no sign that trade la as bad as some want to mako out LOWER PRICES EOR CROSSBREDS. Turning to the fleece of the mutton breeds, conditions here are slightly worse if anvthing than in merinos. A good deal of hammering has been done to get 40's down to 12id and 40's carded to 13£d, with prepared sorts about Id more. There is no doubt that the expert yarn trade in crossbred qualities is in a very limp condition, and unless there is an alteration during next month, a very critical state of affairs is bound to follow. There are many spinners who have not booked a decent order since last June and July ; in fact, some have had no good sale since last April, the little business placed in November being nothing near on the- same scaleas one is accustomed to see.