OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3347, 8 May 1918, Page 12

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

(Fhom Our Special Cohkesfondzkt.)

BRADFORD, February 28. WOOL AND TOPS TO BE DEARER.

Tho shiDping problem is naturally one of gravo difficulty, and everything indicates that the day is not far distant when wool arrivals will become materially less. It is known that cargoes at &ea are considerable, fully up to the average of the past six months; but perhaps that L not saying a great deal. What concerns tho trade most is the future of supplies, and this notwithstanding the fact that there are perhaps mot any very urgent needs to be supplied at tho moment. Unfortunately a huge blunder has been mado through tho inoompetenco of the staff of State Wool Control, and if the advice the writer tendered last October had been accepted there would have been no shortage of combing wools such as exists to-day. What can be expected when leading men in charge have had no practical mill experience? There will be a day of reckoning some time, and to thoso with a lifelong connection with the tra-de the wonder is that the entire industry has got through as well as it has. This is solely due to the adequate wool supplies which have come into this country hitherto; but in view of the submarine

menace and the weekly loss of a dozen ships, it is disappointing to know that there is a superabundance of supplies of short, clothing, faulty wools, and a shortage of combing descriptions. It only needed an elementary knowledge to see that the consumption of combing merinos and crossbreds would be tremendously heavy—far greater than that of clothing wools. Only ordinary foresight was necessary to make provision for the present and the future. The writer saw this contingency four months ago, and warned the officials; but, with their usual precision and knowledge, they neglected completely to take cognisance of the situation, consequently the trade has now been officially advised of a shortage in combing wools. Instead of bringing home., as we know to be the case, three bales of combing wools to two oi clothing, the proportion should have been at least four to five bales of combing to one of clothing, when there would now have been stocks available to satisfy all the requirements of the woollen and worsted industries. FREIGHT TO BE LESS. The trade has now been semi-officially informed that there is to be a marked shortage In freight, the writer being told this week that no wool or mohair is to be brought from the Cape for at least two months. This has been" a great blow to the mohair trade in particular, for there will be standing machinery in a fortnight, all for the want of the raw material. • Wo entirely uphold the attitude of the Shipping Controller in reserving all freight available for bringing home foodstuffs, for, as one official aptly put it last week, the demands of the stomach are always louder than those of the back. Present stocks of raw material clearly indicate the better position of the woollen industry compared with 'the worsted; and if the worst comes to the worst it will be a question of woollen yarns being spun in sufficient quantity and a portion handed over to worsted manufacturers to be need in conjunction with worsted warps. The freight question is naturally a very big one, there being eo much space absorbed in shifting to the theatres of war both food supplies and ammunition required for military operations. There is every likelihood of a certain proportion of combing merinos and crossbreds beimr brought from Australasia; even 20,..X) to 30.000 bales per month would helr> to fill up the gap. As already indicated, the wooTlon trade is in a position to look well after itsolf for the next nine months; hence all available freight should be occupied in bringing to this country nothing but combine wool^. PROSPECT OF HIGHER PRICES.

Although there is no official announcement on the subject, ye't in very well-in-formed circles it is assorted that for tho next rationing period, which begins on April 1 and extends to July 31, both wool and tops are to bo invoiced at higher prices. There have boon indications of this for the past three weeks, and we are reliably informed that the whole question is being seriously discussed in London, and everything indicates a new schedule of values for both merinos and crossbreds as well as British wools. We understand that the prineiplo being followed is that proportionately higher prices will be charged for merinos than crossbreds, the coarsest descriptions showing the least advance and

the finest classes the highest. It will be' remembered that for the current rationing period prices for tops showed an average advance of 10 per cent., and there is every likelihood of the new scale carrying prices still higher, although the department will make no attempt to justify in the least a new scale of values. As a matter of fact, it simply issues 'the list, and the trade knows they must accept it, the department being in a position to dictate whatever values it thinks fit. ITS EFFECTS UPON GROWERS. From all one hears in responsible wool circles the recent trouble among South African woolgrowers has been duly noted, and while no one is apprehensive of seeing a repetition of the same circumstances in Australasian wool growing circles, it shows clearly enough the power of growers. It is not too much to say that any further r>se in the price of wool or 'tops at this end will be duly noted among growers, and unless the writer is greatly mistaken the Imperial authorities will have to pay Australasian growers a little more when they come to purchase the next clip. Some seem staggered at the very thought of tho Imperial authorities even attempting to purchase the next colonial clip; but one hardly thinks the war will be over soon enough to prevent that taking place. Then, too, the Government is certain to control tho destination of all Empire-grown_ wool for six to 12 months after the cessation of hostilities, and perhaps the greatest good will be done by tho British Government acquiring another Australasian clip. Of course they will have to offer terms satisfactory to growers, and they can well afford to pay more money. One does not want to write anything that is not in perfect harmony with actual facts, and every wool textile man at this end feels that Australasian pastoralists have played a noble part. Great credit is due to them for handing over their fleeces at a price sensibly below what they would bring to-day in an open market. Nobody begrudges the department the handsome profits which have been made, but it is 'the vexatious restrictions which have been imposed, resulting in tho putting out of business of an army of importers and wool merchants which is today a source of groat dissatisfaction. However, everybody is lovnllv submitting to 'this inconvenience while the war is on. THE AMERICAN ORDERS.

There ' s still no official announcement regarding the projective American orders •which arc to be placed among British maimfacturcrw. and wc expect no statement until the orders arc actually given out. However, it is known that some bulky weights have been asked for by Washington officials, and we doubt if negotiations are still complete. Leicester hosiery manufacturers arc cnsragcd_ in ihe production of considerable quantities of underwear hosiery fabrics, all by way of renewals, _ and khaki cloths are. to be tackled. It is common gossip among .manufacturers that the Cloth Department in Bradford, which is responsible for giving out orders and making the stuff, wanted Washington to be satisfied with British khaki, which is good enough for any man, and American mills would bo gladly allowed to make everything their own troops require if the question of freight were not a very important one. So long as our Government undertakes 'to satisfy

all demands by way of renewals, that is all our American friends can expect, and they must have regard to the question of British raw wool supplies, because there is undoubtedly a shortage of combing merinos and crossbreds, which are. all wanted and absolutely essential for the making of _ khaki cloths. America is in a better position for obtaining raw wool than Britain, and therefore we hope the officials of the Cloth Section of the Washington Government will acquiesce to the reasonable request of our Cloth Department, and allow _ American troops to wear standard khaki cloths such as are being worn by the rank and file of British regiments.