OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3315, 26 September 1917, Page 13

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

(Fbom Or/a Special Coesespondent.) AMERICA AS A WOOL-BUYER. BRADFORD, July 19. A very largely attended meeting was convened last week by tho West Spinners' Federation, representing 50,000 work people and 3,000,000 spindles. That fact alone is sufficient to indicate the importanco of tho gathering, and certainly tho meeting was of an epoch-making char acter. The whole federation had been called together to seriously discuss conditions which had been precipitated by the scheme of State control, for not only are mills now running 10 hours per week less, but the allocations made a fortnight ago by the Priority Committee are totally inadequate to keep spindles and frames running, and if the letter of the allocations was ta be carried out 75 per cent, of the spinning mills in tho West Riding of Yorkshire would be now silent to the end of August. That fact alone is sufficient to show readers throughout the British Empire what leelings to-day animate spinners and manufacturers, and it is sufficient to say that buMor the war there would be a revolution. Tho trade is loyal to a man; they are not opposed to State control, but the actual measures taken have been eo unbusinesslike that nothing but <the war has restrained men from making their grievances known in an original fashion. lhe meeting last week-end was a strong proteat against the conditions which have been enforced by the Imperial authorities. It can be said with all truthfulness that unless

there is some amelioration very serious troublo is threatened, and. spinners are simply " biding their time" m the hope that common sense will prevail, and that red tape and foolish restrictions will be set on one side. A SIGNIFICANT SPEECH.

A young spinner, Mr J. W. Buhner, evidently came prepared to take the bull by the horns, and during 45 minutes addressed the large assembly by making a very businesslike speech. It is promised to the press, but is being revised in some of the details. The speech was listened to with great interest, and loudly applauded, everything indicating a strong fighting attitude on the part of the meeting. It has since formed the subject of a good deal of talk in wool textile circles, and the great contention of Mr Buhner was that America has at present a good deal more wool than she requires for the next 12 months; that the granting by the Imperial Government of the privilege to purchase 45,000 bales of wool in Australia is wrong in principle; and if there is a shortage m this country, • which Mr Buhner set out to prove was a fallacy, the same shipping that will carry the 45,000 bales to America would bring that wool to England, and that there is absolutely no justification for British nulls runnino- 45 hours per week instead of 55£ hours. To the satisfaction of the majority present, Mr Buhner proved that the present measures of control are altogether uncalled for; and, while he strongly maintained that adequate provision should be made for all military requirements, both of Great Britain and her Allies, together with a reasonable reserve being created, he contended that at present there is no shortage whatever of wool, and if the imports are anything like maintained on the scale of the imports of the past six months • there is enough wool and to spare to satisfy all oossible requirements. It would have been as weir if a full report of the speech had . appeared in the press; but I am authoritatively told that it will be handed in probably in the course of a week, and that then the opportunity will be given the trade of analysing the facts which were Bet before the meeting. Mr Bulmer specially called attention to the position of the American textile trade, „ contending, I understand, that America, having bought Buch big weights of wool in South Africa and South America, has therefore no immediate need for supplies, this statement directing attention to the great American wool industry. THE UNITED STATES WOOL TRADE. Be it said to the credit of the American textile industry, great strides have been made in manufacturing during the past 25 years. The industry has to-day assumed such gigantic proportions that it is playing an important part in the wool markets _of the world, and everything points to playing a still more important part in the coming years. The large operations of America in Australasian and South African markets have been a bone of contention in British wool circles for the past 18 months. Of course, little was done last year _in the colonies, because of the embargo in Australia and New Zealand. With South Africa remaining an open market._ American purchases have been very considerable, whilo her operations in Buenos Aires and Montevideo have been colossal. Tho wools that have been bought have naturallyproved a good investment to American operators, for her own sheep stocks have .Brightly declined, and there is no question that her consumption has been largely augmented on account of national prosperity; whilo in 1915 stocks were exhausted On-account of large orders being placed for military requirements by such countries as France and Russia. I think it would be very unbecoming on my part to criticise the largo operations of United States buyers Jri any country. Some contend, in fact, I ,believe Mr Bulmer stated, that America was simply piling up stocks of wool ready for competing against British spinners and marufacturers when the war finishes; but In my opinion the competition of American mills in neutral countries can never be a Berious menaco to British mills, although, with wages throughout Great Britain having risen 60 to 65 per cent., American competition will be more to be feared than in pre-war times.

IMPORTS INTO AMERICA. ' Let u 3 look at this important question, A good deal was made at the spinners" meeting 1 of the largo weights of -wool which America has purchased since the outbreak of war. Of course, United States milb were Compelled to operate largely fn order to turn out the large military orders placed by Continental neutrals, the bulk of their own domestic wools being totally unsuitable for making army fabrics. Below'l give B comparative statement showing the im-

ports and exports of wool and its manufacturers for the 12 months ending December 31 for the years named : IMPORTS OF RAW MATERIAL., Class 1. Class 2. Class 3. Clothing. Combing. Carpets. Total. Year. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. 1912 91,297,211 21,727,43-1 125,093,705 238,118,350 1913 52,783,675 11,341,766 87.683,260 151,813,7C3 1914 146,337,517 24,881,048 88,974,326 260,192,331 1915 295,564,838 13,264,107 103,892,347 412,721,292 1916 356,400,729 10,082,451 82,706,744 449,189,924 IMPORTS OF MANUFACTURES OF WOOL. Dress Carpets. Clotheis. Goods. Year. eq. yds. lbs. sq. yds. 1912 .. 1,003,453 4,309,266 14,788,028 1913 .. 1,010,981 4,857,784 16,268,204 1914 ~ 1,202,845 16,253.170 *10.216,847 1915 .. 1,850,093 7,026,276 13,114.995 1916 .. 769,536 5,808,203 4,222,604 * lbs. EXPORTS OF MANUFACTURES OF WOOL. Year. Dollars. 1912 3,509,810 1913 .. .. 4.589,896 1914 .. .. 12,479,532 1915 42,596,339 1916 i. .. 37,442,690 The above shows conclusively that America is doing a very considerable trade, and that trade cannot possibly bo done without the assistance of colonial wools.