LONDON WOOL SALES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 804, 29 April 1910, Page 8

LONDON WOOL SALES.

MERINOS STILL LEADING IN PRICE. (From Our Special Correspondent.) London, March 18, 1910. This is the second week of the. series, and although stopped by one day of fog, still the same teen inquiry for the raw material has been witnessed. The. selection has continued to be very good both iii merinos and v crossbreds, and the former undoubtedly still occupy premier position. Up to 17M. was paid on Wednesday night for New England (N.S-.W.) grease, and anything fine in quality and good length is selling- well. There is a particularly strong demand on Bradford account for West Australian wools, these doing splendidly, and making up to a shilling for very average grease. What still .sells the worst are the very shafty South Australian wools that, are rather low in quality,, these feeling the want of American competition. There 'is no doubt that the absence, of 'this' feature is responsible for some parcels coining Id., per lb. less, and many speculators' lots have had to be withdrawn entirely on account of this. Wools of quality are selling the best, the Continent-giving excellent support. Prices can now be called dearer by }d. per .lb.. for good grease, and scoureds are better by-.-Jd. to Id. The demand for scoured seedy, bufry, carbonising parcels-is particularly, keen, and these are up Id. All classes of merinos arc selling as well as, ever, both the Home and Continental trades buying largely. Crossbreds are the disappointing quantity, especially Americna-sorts. It will be remembered that in January prices were sent up a penny for bright, showy, medium and coarse wools solely by United' States buyers, and with quieter conditions, across the Atlantic, there is now lower limits in operation, andV considerably less buying being done. 'This has.meant a Id. to LJd. drop in essentially American medium and coarse crossbreds, and sellers are consequently very disappointed. For halfbreds the reverse is the case. In January they made no headway, but this series .they have again become dearer, and -Jd. more is the order of the day. Both Bradford, Scotch, and American buyers are competing keenly for 50's to 56's, and some splendid prices are being paid. Good average top-mak-ing wools are |d. down, but for'every quality the demand is .good and keen up to a- price. Stipes are selling splendidly, and'easily making last safes' prices, and for short clothing sort's }d. moro ..is being paid.. They are somewhat scarce, .hence their firmness. Taking the series as a whole there is-nothing whatever to. find fault over, America being the missing link in medium and coarse light conditioned par-, eels. The Home trade, is. a very big buyer, and everything is going off credit-, ably. WOOLCOMBERS' STRIKE SETTLED. Since writing last the woolcombers' strike in Bradford, which affected about 9000 operatives, has come to' a finish, all mills restarting last Monday morning. I am certain that if it bad continued another fortnight it would have brought, down wool prices, at the same time putting up the value of lops that were in stock. However,' all alike rejoice that common sense, has been allowed full sway, and' at ar. important conference between masters and'men, the following terras wero agreed upon:— 1. That a .federation of. employers be formed. That a joint board of employers and' employees be formed for dealing with . wages,. conditions of .labour, and the settlement of disputes, provided that .the parties., concerned, cannot come to a mutual . understanding,. and that a conference for. this purpose ,be .convened:by the.Right H6n.,the Lord Mayor of Bradford hot later than April 11, .1910. '' 2. That an advance of sixpence per week be given to all employees receiving less than 15s. per week and an, advance of Is. to: those receiving 15s. per week and over, the advance to commence from March 11, and that' a further, advance of 6d. and Is. respectively be given, commencing August 5, 1910. ... 3.. That two stops of half, an, hour ea'ch or their, equivalent be allowed all-night worker's-for -meals, for which there shall be no: deduction on the present rate of wages, with,..the condition .that,'meals must be taken only during such stoppages. ' ' ' i. That it is .now definitely understood, as per Alderman Hayhurst's declaration at a conference'oh the 9th,inst.,' that in case of complaints or disputes occurring in any establishment efforts shall first be made to settle directly ! by employer and employed', and only, failing agreement shall union officials inter.vene.

5. Should these terms be agreed to between the employers and\workmen, it is understood that all employees employed at the commencement of the dispute shall commence work without prejudice at a- date to be fixed by the employers. CONDITIONS IN-.BRADFORD. The event of the past week has been | the settlement of the woolcombers' strike and once more the trade breathes freely. We are glad the men havo taken a sensible view of the situation, and that a better understanding now obtains between masters and operatives than has hitherto existed. The resumption of work has been the signal for renewed confidence in the present standing of wool values, and there must be a colossal consumption when values are so high and still tend upward. The continued firmness in ( Coleman Street is having a very salutary effect upon those who all along havo professed little confidence in the present high values, and the. increased demand for crossbreds in particular has surprised not.a few. The fact is, there is a growing belief that every grade of crossbred wool will be wanted at not far oIT to-day's prices, and, taking things on the whole, the market is distinctly better in tone and business more active. Merinos are exceedingly firm, and topmakers will not accept a fraction less than tliey are asking. A good super GO's top is generally quoted at 27d.. and u'4's a penny more, and even at these figures Bradford is below London. In regard to crossbreds, there is a distinct firmness in fine qualities, and although topmakers have received many bids at Jd. to id. under what they are quoting for 36's to '4.o's, yet they cannot afford to entertain /such overtures. Trade is not particularly active, but there is no speculation. There continues to be somo big weights Kent out to commission and the Continent is buying fairly liberally of carded, medium sorts. Taking things as a whole, business is healthy, sound, progressive. There continues to be a' large consumption in all departments, and spinners are as hard pressed as ever they were. , Manufacturers are also comfortably situated as regards orders, and on their part there is plenty of pressure to get out fabrics. Many- have sold all their output till next July, and on expert account there bas lately been a considerable 'accession (of orders. Manufacturers aTe now getting ready their patterns for the spring of 1911, but winter confirmations are not coming in as well as might be expected. There is no question of a doubt that wholesale houses are considering seriously the enhanced prices manufacturers are enforcing, and if trade keeps good they will have no other alternative than to accede to the increased prices which are being demanded. Noils are selling somewhat better, and at* a fraction more. Mohair id very quiet, and prices, if anything, are slightly tending in. buyer's favour.