"WOOL LEAGUE."

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18894, 8 January 1927, Page 12

"WOOL LEAGUE."

CONFERENCES IN ITALY. I SETTLEMENT OF TRADE i DISPUTES. (FROM OCE OWN cobbispokdext.) i LONDON, November 30. A few days ago the Council of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce received reports in regard to the recent conferences at Turin and Rome, which were attended on behalf of the Wool Textile Industry of Great Britain. Mr J. H. Hodgson dealt with the discussions following which Italy had j assented to become a party to the I agreement already in existence between Greai Urit.iin, France. Belgium, and I Germany for the settlement of trade i disputes by arbitration instead of the I usual litigation in the courts. The i German delegates, said Mr Hodgson, j were most friendly and helpful. The | atmosphere of doubt noticeable in Berlin last year had disappeared. The Germans realised that the overtures ttliich v. ere made t-o them last year were genuine and whole-hearted, and this year they had unhesitatingly given their most friendly support ana cooperation. The part that the British delegation plaj-ed was acknowledged by prominent Italians, and Mr Tfiilloch was described by one of them in an oflicial speech as "the soul of the conference. 1 ' If the agreement were ratified, the five most important European nations interested in the textile industry would have agreed in one common treaty to settle their differences by arbitration.' Great Moral Effect. '•The effect and influence of this agreement," said Mr Hodgson, '.'cannot be measured by the number of cases which will be settled by arbitration. The moral will be more widespread than can at present be estimator, and I hope those engaged in the textile industry of this country, if they have disputes with nationals of other countries and cannot settle them, wili : bring them to the Bradford Chamber : of Commerce and test the work' which I is being done. "Our commercial relations have been improved by these deliberations and our friendships cemented. "If," added Mr Hodgson, amid applause; "commercial and social relationships of countries are satisfactory, wo can, without much anxiety, leave the politicians to follow our lead." Mr Joseph Clay said, with reference to the desirability of securing uniform standards in the conditioning of wool, the conference passed a resolution in favour of an international conference of delegates being held of qualified conditioning houses. The object will be to suggest a calculation, or scale, to be presented for consideration at the next wool conference. Jute Fibre Question. Mr D. G. Ackroyd stated that the Italian delegates expressed appreciation of the difficulties caused in manufacturing by the presence of jute fibres in wool, and promised to go into the question of substituting tne all-wool pack for the Jute pack. Respecting the proposal in favour of the compilation of reliable statistics of wool production and consumption, he said the conference were unanimously agreed that these would be helpful to the trade of the various wool textile countries.

Mr Ackroyd said that when the secretary of the Bradford Ch&mter of Commerce mentioned that the Worsted Spinners' Federation were opposed to the proposal, the German delegates smiled, but unfortunately for them when Mr Tulloch asked if the situation was not the same in Germany, a reply had to be given in the affirmative.

Mr Hodgson and Herr Weidemann were both in the position of representing turo bodies, one desiring to give an affirmative, and the other' a negative vote. Herr Weidemann left the room, but Mr Hodgson conscientiously recorded his votes. He did not think that these were counted.. Without Acrimony.

Mr John Emsley (the president) proposed the adoption of the reports, ana said that there were enquiries from the lawyers to know what the position was. He thought these gentlemen might think the Chamber was treading on their preserves, but he thought they wanted to keep the arbitration proceedings as simple as possible, and avoid complications by legal advice. Mr Sutcliffe Smith seconded, and paid a tribute to the work of the delegation and to Mr Tulloch. The arbitration agreement would create a more friendly atmosphere in countries which were their competitors. There ought to be inter-buying and interfiling, without acrimony, between the nations. The resolution was carried unanimously.

On tiie proposition of Mr Emsley, it was derided to inform the Board or Trade of the progress of negotiations in regard to arbitration. Mr D. Ackroyd, in seconding the suggestion, remarked that at the conference which he had just attended, it was noticeable that delegates from foreign countries laid stress on -arbitration in a political as well as an industrial sense.

GENERAL MERCHANDISE.

GROCERIES. Wholesale houses opened again for busij ness on Tuesday and the week produced a fair amount of business. Unbleached Thompson raising are scarce, and most houses are out of stock. Fresh supplies are due in February, when values should bsi a trifle easier. The steamer Iviwitea is due in Lyttolton on Tuesday from Auckland wita general cargo, including sugar. She has also on board supplies of sugar for Timaru. The Tahiti from San Francisco is due in New Zealand (Wellington) on January 18th. She will discharge dried fruits, also canned fruits, for the local market. Late cable messages from Singapore state that the next dispatch for Lyttelton will not be until March or early in April. This ship will bring sago and tapioca as well as pineapple, spices, and rattans. Tho pineapple market shows a firming tendency, whilst | sago and tapioca bold their price. Prices of citric acid are firm, and the market looks I like hardening. Tartaric ueid is in short supply locally, and will remain so until ! fresh arrivals land about the end of the month. Contrary to expectations, the egg market still keeps firm. Dairy and separator butter is plentiful at easy prices. Linseed oil this week was quoted f.o.b. London at 2s Sd to 2s SJd, drums extra, prompt shipment. AUCKLAND DAIRY PRODUCE. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAH.) AUCKLAND, January 6. The butter yield for the Auckland province was 32,870 boxes ahead of the same period in 1925, and 36,776 better than 1924. The December cheese output was 27.594 crates, comi)i"'d with 27,157 in 1925, and 20.792 in 1921, but for the six monthly period ended December 31st, the figures ■were: 82,701 (1926), 76,553 (1925), 60,818 (1924). -Reduced to lbs of butter-fat, the butter and cheese yield for the past six months is 49,123.7501b, compared with 40,755,6031b for the fame period in 1925, and 44,894,265 for 3924. blackwater mines. (PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) REEFTON, January 7. Returns for December: Crushed, 3034 tons, yielding 1356 fine ounces gold, valued at £5758; working expenses, £4269; the roaster also treated 48 tons, yielding gold valued at £352; working expenses, £138; working profit, £1703; capital expenditure, £409; development, £435; profit over all, £859.