OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER

Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 13

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER

PRACTICAL MEASURES TO BE ADVO CATED BY WOOL CONTROL. .

(From Our Special Correspondent.) BRADFORD. November 7. Since writing last another- meeting ha 3 been held in London to take definite step 3 to form a Wool Council, and more details are now available regarding the future of the wool textile industry. One' cannot say all that one would like, and, although some strong things have been said regarding the object of tho council, time alone will decide whether it deserves the blessing of the trade or otherwise. There may be a few of the under officials of the department w;ho want to seo State control after the war—in fact, the nationalisation of the entire industry has even been mentioned, but such is not worih a moment's consideration. We have to fae« the fact that the war is not yet finished, control is inevitable for another 12 months, and the general impression prevails that a certxhi amount of control can be continued along with and as a means towards the gradual dismantling of the whole busir.-ess. If the present restrictions can be removed, and increasing supplies it will be a real good thing, and it is intended xo deal with after- war problems through the agency of the Wool Council. Steps have been taken during the past week with this object in view. I hope tho high officials of the department are animated by the highest motive*, and believe they are. All the heads of the various sections have repeatedly declared in public that State control must begin to tro s soon as peace is declared, only it would be suicidal to throw markets open and allow supplies to be taken by all comers when hostilities cease. Such a proceeding would be greatly to the injury of the textile industry of Great Britain and her Allies, and these have a right for. first consideration when the much-needed supplies become available. The war has produced such disorganisation by monopolising freight that it will take months for things to get back into anything like decent order, and until adequate supplies are guaranteed for" the British and Allied trades it will be best for'a reasonable measure of control to remai 1 in force. CONSTITUTION OF WOOL COUNCIL. As akeady indicated, an important meeting was held last week in London to form the Wool Council on broad, democratic lines. A consideration of the particulars given below will show readers that tho Wool Council- have great opportunties, and I believe they will advise on the very •best lines possible. The conference unanimously recommended that the Wool Council should include 41 trade members—23 representing employers and 18 employees. It was therefore agreed that the members should be elected by the following bodies:—Board of Control (11 employers and 11 employees), 22; British Wool Federation, 4; Associated London Selling Wool-brokers, 1; Colonial Wool Merchants' Association, 1; Wool-combing Employers' Federation, 1; Worsted Spinners' Federation, 1; Woollen and Worsted Trades Federation (flannel manufacturer), 1; Wool Textile Association (one export yarn and top merchant, one export and home piece merchant, and one _ clothier), 3; National Association of Unions in the textile trade, 5; United Garment Workers' Union, 2; — total, 41. The following clauses defining tho functions of the council were accepted by the conference: —■ . (a) To advise as to the needs of the industry with regard to raw materal > during the transition period. (b) Prepare plans which will facilitate the turnover from war to peace conditions. (o) To speak on behalf of the industry in the matters on which the proposed Standing Council on post-war priority may wish to consult with them. (d) To act as an advisory body to theWar Office on matters relating to the purchase and sale of raw wool and tops, and other matters connected with wool control which are not included in the terms of reference of the Board of Control of the woollen and worsted industry. (e) To deal with any other matters which may be referred to the council by the War Office, the Board of Trade, the Ministry of Reconstruction, the Board of Control, or any recognised trade or labour association connected with the industry. WORK BEFORE THE COUNCIL.

The various associations of the trade have met in Bradford this week to elect their representatives, the British Wool Federation nominating Mr Arthur Hill, Sir Win. P. Raynor, Mr H. Norman Rae, and Mr Harry 'Dawson. The Wool Textile Association have appointed Colonel G. Hoffman (representing ' the exporters of tops and yarns), Mr T. A. Oorry (export and home trade in fully manufactured goods), and Mr Robert H. Glenfield (clothing manufacturers). The West Riding Spinners' Federation have to appoint four, and it can be taken for granted that the representatives of this body on the Board of Control, with the present chairman (Mr Mitchell), will also be the four representatives on the Wool Council. The reader will see that progressive men are to represent the trade, and the strongest point of all is that they go as a united body. Everyone is pledged to serve the trade as a whole, the motto being, " Each for all, and all fcr each." With the Military Service Act out of the way at the conclusion of peace, there is nothing to prevent a real aggressive programme being inaugurated, and I believe that a .policy will be formed which will be to the liking of all members of the trade in Great Britain and Allied countries from wool-grower to manufacturer. I am able to say on the very best authoritv that the Wool Council will pursue a different policy from that adopted during the past three years. I understand that all statistics relating to supplies—that is, arrivals, wool at sea, together with _ stocks in Australia and in Great Britain —are likely to be published, the trade being put in full possession of all the facts regarding supplies and consumption. This has been a serious deficiency since the London sales closed, and the publication of statistics was forbidden. Great significance will attach to pre-war methods being reinstated on this head, because the future of prices will largely depend upon supplies. Many are hoping that the statistics of _ the trade which have not been published since end of 1915 will be forthcoming; otherwise there is bound to be an irreparable gap created in future years when one looks back to see what was done during the two years of war which followed the closing of the London sales, Other statistic* regarding arrivals,

stocks, as well as consumption should be available. LONDON SALES TO BE RESUMED. Another important piece of work which the Wool Council will have to tackle will be the urging of the reopening of the London salts, and every eilort will be made with that object in view. These are indispensable. Everyone recognises that the present method of distribution may havo been the right thins during the war. but when supplies become fairly decent there is nothing to prevent Coleman Street opening l its doors and arrivals being distributed, either at fixed prices under permit or els* throwing the markets onon to the competition of Great Britain and her Allies I hardly think that at the beginning thl* would be a wise thing to do; but this should bo possible when large supplies be. come available, although the destination of wool is bound to be controlled.