OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3854, 24 January 1928, Page 13

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

A DIFFICULT POSITION FOR CROSSBRED USERS. BRADFORD, November 17.

The opening of the selling season in New Zealand directs attention to the types of wool being grown in that country and the present relation of the European trade to them. Breeding crossbred sheep has been on the whole profitable, though in saying that one must ignore the experiences of the past fewyears. Everything indicates a permanent maintenance of values, and certainly nobody wants to see a repetition of what took place in 1924. Values began to rise at the opening of the selling season, in New Zealand, and reached the 'top in December. From that point a very serious slump began, which cost Bradford millions sterling. Neither Bradford nor the Continent can stand a repetition of what then took place, simply because no section of the trade has been able to get back the money lost during -1925 and 1926. The way the season . has opened this week has to a large extent unnerved Bradford buyers, for in the past this section has always lifted 75 per cent, of the New Zealand offerings. Thia

starting off with values in the clouds has completely upset the calculations of home trade buyers. Rather than pay opening prices ,we fancy that a good many will stand on one side until Germany, Russia and France have had their fill. According to a cable from Wellinga warning note has been voiced to growers not to expect an indefinite continuance of to-day’s high level, as Bradford is the mainstay of the New Zealand market. To be called upon to pay 2d to 3d more,for wool in the grease is a very serious item, opening values at Wellington carrying prices very sensibly above those ruling for tops in Bradford, and much above the cost of wool in South America. Many people in Bradford trunk that somebody has lost their head, or that there must be very urgent requirements to be filled. It is certain that no Bradford firm had limits approaching the prices paid, and there is no wonder that buyers for that centre secured so little. Most limits sent out to New Zealand were 19d for 40’s, 20d for 46’s, and 22d for 48-50’s. Those costs were fully equal to the price of tops to-day, and therefore the majority do not know where they stand. CHARACTER OF NEW ZEALANDMERINOS. New Zealand is furnishing the manufacturing world to-day with some very satisfactory wools. The few lines of merinos catalogued at Christchurch, Timaru, and in Rondo's always sell uncommonly well. Some West of England firms, as well as a few in the West Riding engaged in woollen manufacture, usually pay more for them than is paid for similar wools of Australian origin. It may seem strange to Australian growers to be told that New Zealand merinos usually fetch a fraction more than is paid for Australian merinos. Nearly all the Canterbury-grown wools go for woollen manufacturing purposes. The softness and milling property possessed by New Zealand merinos induce several firms to look upon these wools as prime favourites. If the wools are

not over-scoured they produce cloth that handles very much like' what is made froin West Victorian wools. There is no superfine quality in New Zealand merinos, the bulk being no more . than 64’s, but the soundness and softness of the staple is turned to good purpose by certain woollen manufacturers. Of course, there are no burrs, so that the wool can be taken straight to the willey-house for blending purposes immediately after scouring and drying. •No doubt in several mills they are blended w’ith mungo, shoddy, anti cotton, but New Zealand merinos in a blend always turn up well in the cloth, and facilitate the soft finish which wholesale fabric buyers very much appreciate. FEATURES OF NEW ZEALAND CROSSBREDS.

Whatever quality a crossbred topmaker or spinner wants he can obtain in the crossbreds grown in New Zealand. New Zealand, furnishing a big range of qualities, has contributed a great deal to the development of the West Riding textile industry. Spinners and manufacturers on the Continent, in England, and America can produce an endless variety of goods. Everybody knows that crossbred" qualities are broadly divided into coarse, medium, and fine. Coarse crossbreds as a rule fall into counts varying from 36’s to 44’s, medium qualities are mostly 46’s to 48’s, while some would also include 50’s in medium crossbred, qualities. As a rule 50’s to 5.6’s comprise fine crossbreds, while 58’s are still regarded in the wool world as being comebacks. It is the work of the buyer to value these different qualities, and they are bought to fit the market price of the corresponding top here in Bradford. COARSE CROSSBREDS WANTED. is New Zealand this season going to turn out a bigger supply of coarse crossbred wool than has been the case during the past two years? This question has been pointedly asked by many buyers during recent weeks, but only time can prove how big a quantity will be avail-

able. New Zealand pastoralists seem to be ignoring the claims of the Lincoln, and the Leicester, breeding almost exclusively from the Romney and Down breeds of sheep. The employment of the two latter breeds as stud stock means a finer fleece of wool, hence the big supplies of 46's to 56’s. South America to-day seems to be the chief source of supply for coarse crossbreds, but there are still many spinners who prefer New Zealand wool to' that grown in South America. During the past few years there has been a marked improvement in the character and handle of the South American clip, largely the result of using New Zealand blood as stud stock; but the New Zealand climate produces a softer handling fleece than either the Rivei' Plate or Uruguay. For this reason many Bradford spinners of crossbreds prefer tops made out of New Zealand wool. TRADE WITH RUSSIA.

In the early- months of this year some excitement was created in Bradford and London wool circles by the raid upon Arcos, Ltd., and the suspicion which was thrown upon the All Union Textile Syndicate, the latter company then having a branch office in Bradford and having done considerable business in wool with Bradford firms. The incident was finally dismissed by Bradford traders saying with almost common consent that Russia would need to trade with Bradford before Bradford would need to trade with Russia. There was, however, a strong undercurrent of opinion that the British .Government had adopted a rather highhanded attitude, and some traders in this city are still alive to the possibilities of selling wool and .other textile commodities to Russia, It is now understood that Mr J. R. Rollitt, president of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce, and Mr Sam Harland, of the well-known topmaking firm of Robert Jowitt . d Suns, Ltd., have had an interview with the Home' Secretary on British relations with Russia as affecting the wool textile industry. The Home Secretary pointed out that there is not, and never has been,

any intention to interfere with the freedom of any British traders who desire to do business with Russia. This gesture may- be accepted for what it is worth, but when the British Government decided to give notice to Arcos, Ltd., that it was desirable to close down and clear out of the country it was hardly likely- that the offices of the All Union Textile Syndicate would remain open in Bradford, notwithstanding that they had been taken on several years’ lease. This dealt a serious blow to several firms who had been selling wool, tops, and noils to Russia. The fact that already 30,000 bales of wool have been bought for Rusia in Australia since the beginning of last July- shows clearly what Bradford has lost. Having begun to buy in 'overseas , markets, the representatives of Russian mills will no doubt continue to operate there. It does not seem likely that Russia will be induced to buy here again unless longer credit is given than previously.

(For Continuation of Farm and Station - see Page 19.)

“ It is no use beating about the bush. Every time I go to a pub I get caught!” There is at least one frank offender against the licensing laws on the West Coast (says the Grey Star). The foregoing remark was made by one man to Sergeant J. Smyth, when caught in a Greymouth hotel after hours on November 26. The sergeant raised a laugh when he repeated the remark in court recently. A concrete bridge with a 24ft span between Hukatere and Ruawai, in the Otamatea district, is of more than passing interest for the reason that it was designed and built by Henare Toka (states the Auckland Star). The bridge will cut off a considerable distance between the districts that it has been designed to serve, and has been constructed on modern lines. The Natives in the locality are proud of the achievement, and incidentally they have assisted to finance the project.