YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1414, 15 April 1912, Page 8

YORKSHIRE LETTER.

SOMi: rOIN'I'S (i|' I XTK!!I-;j?T \.\"D I.Ml'(.)lM\\.\('K. II'"rom Our Kuceial Corresoondont.) Dradford, March I, I!H2. \\ «ml values ci-ntiiiue I ) ;-onsidejablc inlen>t, and inm-h alteniion is hv\\\s jiyid to Ihe eonrs' ol tin. l niarkcl. With the nf (lie second series of colonial saies next Tuoday. there is j.alurally a .-Irciy di,o-~itini,'to wail and see wlial London h.is : n slore, and the fuel of (here Iw-isiii available 11)1,.">I!U Inles thai there is still a i'iiir meal to \'ari<ius view- are oxpri.--,;d as lo (he probable cour.-e of prices, anil ivhelher we shall ,-ee any chan«e. 'I'here seems at pre-cut to be "s<i ninny iactors at work and so many tliiuss exi'llin? an inlluenee upon the textile trade in general, thai, nnytiiine ean hapiien. ,lu(-t exactly what takes idaee will be decided by deveiopmenU in tl.e indiislrial world. As t write tlii-. a i.ic effort is beinsf made by tile (.iovernnient (o induce masters and men in die coal Iradf 10 ee.iue lo an amicable in which esise a wcipiit would be taken '"'in Ilie minds of the whole commercial euiniiiunily, and this would undoubtedly be the be-t niovo towards waking Ilie coming series a siiece-Mul one. much (lepeiiils upon induMrial peace, and so much depends upon the trade of the country being_-kept furnished with raw materiiil to raise sleani and keep machinery running, that if there is. a. coal strike, the c;i!is?f|iieuees ean be serious. However, I do not think we .shall see a national disturbance, and given an honouraide setllenuMil. I have every hope that tile textile industry will continue to fnr<?e ahead. 'I he arrivals for the forihcotui hit sales are nil her larger limn was generally expected, but no'livithslamliii!? the heavy ilircci. imparls which arc now coming tonyard weekly to consuming centres, there .-hould be 110 dillieully in lining all die wools available. THK OLD HAXDLOOM DAYS. 1 had this week a letter from tho principal of one of the largest iirms of hosiery niamilacturer.s in Leicester, and 1 am Pflad to inform readers that altliougii there is hardly the same briskno.-s In that important branch of the textile trade as was seen twelve months yet 011 Ihe whole most factories are failywoll run, and consumption is normal, 'iliisis very reassuring in view of the many statements which have appeared in the press that some spinners were quiet, aiul thai, tile production was sensibly Jc.-.s than a year ago. Ido not suppose'the reader has any intimate knowledge of the amount of wool that is beinjr used in tho liosiery trade. but to-day it is %-olossal. 1 know 11a branch of Bradford's industry that gives .such strong support to the consunipjion of merino as well as medium and Jim' crossbred yarns as this branch of Die trade, and duri'ig the ten years 1 hen? have been big developments. Tweii'v-fivo goal's ago the hosiery trade of Leicestershire was largely conducted in the iiomes of the people, just the same as handoom weaving was carried 011 in the cottages of tln> est Hiding. I can well 1 emember those days when there were to lie found "upstairs." as (liey say in Yorkshire, looms and jenny's in every home, riios" were different days from what we live in now. To hear tho "click, click" of the shuttle, and (he stroke of tho loom was music to many an ear, and ihoso flines laid the foundation of many firms which now require a largo plant and extensive premises. Willi'tho invention of Mnnnini; and weaving machinery, a grp.it impetus has been given to (lie textile ti"de. and the old methods would now be altogether inadequate to meet llip world's demands. There are mine things ennuco;.cd with mill life which are not of the best, but 011 the whole, people in-day work under fairly satisfactory conditions and factory life is not so demoralising as many wild Socialists- set forth <m the ]iMform and in the press. But if is the hosiery i, ratio which, I think, provides today a topic which is well worth considerinj;. THE HOSTETiY TRADE. One has only to study Iho changed life of the average citizen to s?3 (hat lilt 1 hosiery trade provides a big outlet for raw wool to bo manufactured into under garments, jerseys, shawls, scarves, children's hoods, c!c. The fact is, Iho hosicry trade is consuming to-day immense quanlilies of yarns spun from 'It's to 711's quality, and there is every probability that this business will expand. During the very hot..summer of 1011 sweaters were very little worn, but 1 am glad (0 be able to say that this useful garment has met with considerable favour in all civilised countries, and this being so, tho way has been paved for a big consumption iti medium quality crossbred*. One has only to travel throughout die Continent as well- as America to find these useful jackets being worn by tho gentler sex. and the latest is that these same garments are made in close-fill hi? jacket form for men. It is really astounding to look through set of traveller's wmples comiM'twl with the hosiery industry. for everything imaginable which is likely lo lie worn by the human race is being produced.

Another important development in connection with this industry is (he universal wearing of lmlf-hose. that is, stockings prod need from merino wools. Several Bradford spinning firms have warehouses in Leicester, where they stock yarn which «m be supplied at an hour's notice to their customers in that town, and one important reason why fine wools have maintained such a prominent position (luring the past few years is that big-, weights are now being 'consumed in the production of fine, merino underclothing and stockings. The most bitter complaints have emanated from liouhaix during the past nine mouths and yet the hosiery , trade of France has been' better than any other branch of the textile industry. This is one reason why Trench linns have been fairly liir.je buyers in Australia, yet evil the time there has been much grumbling that trade was "rotten." It is rather noteworthy that immense quantities of short, faulty wools are consumed ill France and Belgium, anil when these are carbonised, they ale combed on tho French principle, and the tops mule spun. This is a speciality of tho French trade, and no doubt large quantities of faulty wools are shifted which \vould otherwise prove a drug on the market. Important branches of the hosiery trade are established in Halifax as well as the South of Scotland, and seme fairly big weights of wool are consumed, but it does not matter one jot or tittle where hosiery spinners and manufacturers are located so long as a market can be found for the raw material, and so bug as il is ab- i sorbed at a satiMtfctmy price. On the whole, the present winter has been mild, and somewhat large stocks of heavy, weight hosiery fabrics remain ill the lmi<ls of retailors, but as .1 have already said a normal trade seems to be doing, and manufacturers see no reason why an average trade should not be done during the coming spring and summer. I do not know that there is any new feature connected with (he hosiery industry that calls for special comment, though it may be said that a very encouraging feeling prevails in Leicester, and it is believed that with a settlement of I lie present labour trouble a fair amount of new business will com? forward which is now being held back. The export trade is being fairly well maintained, although it is not ou (he large scale that, we have been accustomed to fee. Still, the Homo trade continues lo provide a fair amount of work, and it is rather noteworthy that il is the hosiery trade which is responsible lor Mich louu' priccs being paid in Coleman Street Wool Kxclkiii™ for the wry superior gron*y and warm-water washed lambs' fryni Victoria, AN IMPIIOVF.D sm\mox. 1 am glad to be able to say that things are bet lev, and, >li'ikc or no strike, considerable bu.-ines< is passing. 11 simply amounts lo this, that the majority were sali>linl thai there was nothing to gain by waiting, and (hey chose to come into tiie market and cover part ol their want" for the next two or dure months. It appear* that manufacturers in (he ||| S f fiance placed some fair yarn orders, thereby inducing spiniurs lo'aeeepl about the lowe-t price* tlic.v ha\e taken all through tile |>a.-l 'ea-an. I do not wonder at this, many being keen lo sell, rather rearing that if ihings i ami' to the wor-l llu-y might be fae'd wiflt machiirry. Then, again. Ui", knowledge that ! be weekly auctions ill Australia had tinis lied with prices lirm aLo :-tmiglhonod the bdie! Ilia! w" were not going (o »• any *ei:-ih!o lowering in value*. Ibis niliirming what 1 have said for a month pa-t. .Many in Bradford have done their v.?rv utmost In lifcp things down, nud ltuva ciicd. "gtjaJsiijjs fck," but I hflvqj

Iron convinced nil along lhai wo wore not going 1» see any change in vaims. If llic London sal:s go oil' villi pri'-vs firm, I t.iink tin- ball will I)- set rolling and a very iiiucli letter jeelin;,' will develop I liraughoui (lie whole industry. ar.d sell!:.. I'«r a bug iimi- In e;;me the bli-eimr-e of values. 1 am salistiul that at tin l loHiiiliition things are l'siii-Iy lu'uKliy. Though ivc may 'nor see unv sensible i>||! Vance, il: is inhibit. (Imi '|,v ni.\t May wlicii less weight of wool is in >!■-;){ merinos ni;iy ho tlic 1 u;-n n«.iin-t "iho buyer. However, prices arc firmer 10-riny llinn they luivo fcren lor a month, and whoivas a week ago ill's tiiii- could ca-ilv 1)1' bought at ijil , all topmnkors arc noilvery (inn al L'."irl.. and Minn 1 an l iidiiii" S"'|||. During: (lie week a fairly lii K business has !>i :ii done both in ; ,n ( | yarns and v. liilt- 1 davc siv I In l bulk of I lie sales o| tops lias been made al tM-Jd., Ml I to-day (ojiniak:rs arc adopting a more independent attitude, and (hey 'now sav that they will not accept than thev are quoting until ],ombn pronounccs itverdict, The only lly in tl>,» ointment today is the outlook in the labour wtrld, a sonoiN coal Mriue brius en<?vcd upon, ihis is bound to arrest progress.