OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3889, 25 September 1928, Page 13

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

DOES BRADFORD WANT FINE WOOL ? (From Our Special Correspondent.) BRADFORD, July 19. It is very difficult indeed to say what is- likely to be the outcome of the approaching autumn trade in fully manufactured goods, but the present spell of fine weather in this country 7 should lead to the reduction of the stocks held by retailers. We are just commencing the principal holiday period of the year, and / the majority of those who leave home for seaside or other resorts for a week or more desire to appear as well dressed as their financial position will allow. It is unfortunate, however, that during the past month there has been a good deal of under-employment in the West Riding of Yorkshire, many of the

woollen and worsted mills not being able to run full time. The position in the woollen section is particularly disheartening, mills which before the war had the reputation for being able to keep running continuously being compelled to dismiss operatives. There is, of course, always some shuffling of the cards, and even to-day certain woollen firms apparently find’ no difficulty in running full time. Organisation and enterprise have their place in promoting the prosperity of firms as well as the general state of trade outside the industry itself_ Last week reference was made to the fact that oiie or two firms are busy producing cloths suitable for juvenile wear, and this week my attention has been called to the increasing use of substitutes, particularly among those making woollen cloths. Six weeks ago a new artificial fibre was mentioned which promises to meet with a fair measure of success. It has the appearance of garnetted silk waste, but it is denied that it is anything of the sort. It can be used most advantageously with wool, and though I would not say that by its use with wool in the proportion of 50 per cent, cloth can be made to look the same as a solid wool fabric, when such material is obtainable at 12d to 15d per lb it is obvious that' a much cheaper fabric can be made than from the lowest quality of wool. Nevertheless wool is needed to help artificial silk fibres to pass through tin different processes of manufacture and bind the fabrics together.

Last Thursday and Friday a number of pastoralists and other visitors from Australia. New Zealand, and other parts of the Empire were entertained by the British Wool Federation and the Bradford Chamber of Commerce. On Thursday a conference with the federation was held, Mr William Hunter (president) stating that the wool industry was faced with very severe competition from artificial silk and other fibres. Many people were using artificial silk almost exclusively, and one of the objects of the conference should be to try to find means of attracting more attention to wool to enable a wider outlet to be found for it. Dealing with the classification of wool, Mr Hunter said this was not done as well as it should be. Although the tendency appeared to be to breed sheen which would produce from 101 b to 121 b of wool per head the quality was suffering. He was told that in the next clip there would be a preponderance of wool of that character. That was a type which Bradford cpuld use very satisfactorily, but there was a demand for a finer grade such as Australia formerly produced in large quantities. Several other familiar subjects were discussed, such as the presence of jute fibres in wool and the injurious effects of the tar ..branding of sheep, but the question of quality brought out by Mr Hunter was undoubtedly ■ the nnst important. Numerous samples were shown to indicate the faults still found in wool, and which breeders should endeavour to eliminate. After seeing these samples and visiting the mills in the district the colonial delegates will no doubt have acquired a more accurate conception of the needs of the trade.

The question of wool qualities is perhaps one of the most debatable that has arisen in the Bradford industry for many years past, and at least two well-known men have been abused for expressing the opinion that Australia is turning out merino wool of deeper quality than formerly. It may be reaffirmed, however. that many pastoralists are paying too little regard to the requirements of manufacturers. Experience has proved ion.-ius,vely that increasing the weight of merino fleeces to 101 b to 121 b is accompanied by some loss of quality. The Bradford trade is unrepentantly of the opinion that it is a mistake on the part of Australian pastoralists to breed merino sheep producing wool of 58-60’s quality, sticli as- one speaker at the conference described as handling like a rasp. Too many Australian pastoralists seem to think that Bradford is advocating a return to superfine merino, but this is not the case. LONDON SALES. The sales in Coleman Street have been continued during _ the week under as favourable conditions as anyone could desire. The Continent and the home trade are- absorbing considerable weights of wool. The series will finish at the end of this week, and although closely connected with the trade for the past 40 years, I have never known a July series last for only nine selling days. It clearly shows that less and less wool is coining to London for sale. The clips catalogued have sold fairly creditably. The outstanding clip of the series is undoubtedly the one from Queensland marked C & W/Barr River Downs. This comprises no fewer than 910 bales, all new

clip greasy wool. It showed nice 66-70’s quality, but was a little thin and dusty, q!l oW ’ n S v le ejects of the recent drought, lhe top line of greasy combing made 24d r ol° I ts Sel , h 2E, at 23id to 20d ; necks 24d, 23d, and 22d; broken 224 d to 21d, pieces 204 d to 17d, bellies 21d to 184 d weaners 23d to 20d, broken weaners 204 d and weaner pieces 184 d. The lots sold readily enough, being taken by French German, and home trade buyers. 1 should haxe liked to see the first lots of combing fetch Id more, but they sold on a clean basis of about 51d to 52d. This is a full market price, and certainly the owners should be satisfied with the results. There lias not been a pood show of growers clips from any other State, by tar the bulk of the merino offerings consisting of speculators’ parcels. There has been a very nice show of New England wools, which have sold up to 324 d, but the clean basis is no more than last series. Most of the wools are being taken by Continental spinners, although it is significant that Bradford and Huddersfield spinners are purchasing some nice weights. There has been no very b:g supply of scoured merinos, though New Zealand has contributed fair quantities of very nice wools. Algidus realised up to 464 d for the best combing, other lots making 454 d and 45d. Glentanuer scoured merino combing sold up to 44£d. It is also significant that some scoured halfbred comb-, ing of the brand Hakataramea made 434 d, pieces 40d, bellies 39d, and locks 30d these were really excellent wools of very fine super quality. The prices are also good, and must be regarded as representing the best side of the market. The course of crossbreds throughout the whole series has remained steady on the opening level. It can hardly be’said that slipes have improved their position, notwithstanding that a line of super halfbred combing lambs made 324 d and 31d. Most descriptions are still fetching about o per cent, under last sales. There is no change in the course of greasy crossbreds. These are meeting with steady home trade, with French and German competition. Good greasy halfbred is selling up to 29d, and occasionally a fraction more, but deen 54-56's sell around 244c1. 52-54 s 234 d, 50'13 214 d, 46’s preparing 19d. and 44-40’s 18d. Summing up the series as far as they have gone, I am satisfied thev have revealed a sounder situation than the majority expected to find. There are some soft spots, but what can be expected in face of very disappointing home trade with half the looms standing in Bradford? French and German buyers have dlso. complained bitterly at the poorness of business, and yet thry have been the outstanding operators. Many are already affirming that when the next season opens in Australia we shall see no alteration in prices, because the pace will be forced by Japan in particular. On account of the cheapness of labour, users of wool in Japan can afford to pay almost any price.

(For continuation of “Farm and Station,” ' see page 21.)