YORKSHIRE WOOL LETTER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1517, 13 August 1912, Page 6

YORKSHIRE WOOL LETTER.

THE GERMAN WOOL TRADE. (Prom Our Special Correspondent.) Bradford, June 28, 1912. A letter received this week from an English traveller, whose business is to sell tops among Continental iirms, contains the welcome intelligence that nltnough during the past fortnight trade has considerably tapered oil', yet for a month previous a record business had been done, and he states that German mills are all very busy, and enjoying a booming time. This is very welcome news to those actively engaged either in tho production or manipulation of tho row material, for it shows that trade is not only good throughout textile circles in Great Britain, but also abroad. All this is a clear proof that wool is going rapidly into consumption, and although persistent reports are to the effect that the big business doing is based on very lean margins, it can scarcely be imagined that any firm at a time like the present is running machinery for nothing. It has been most difficult of late to accept the statement oi Bradford export houses that they find new business with the Fatherland very indifferent, when our export returns do not show such a material reduction compared with last year, as might have been expected. The fact is, to hear some people talk, they ure never doiug any good, and they are always quiet, even 'if thev are actually running their plants overtime. What their motive is in always complaining and uttoring a constant wail about an absence of business no one can say, biit facts are stubborn things, and it must be frankly stated that our export returns regarding the shipments of tops still indicate that the West Itiding firms who principally do this trade are fairly well situated for business. More importance could be attached to these complaints if commission wool combers were slack and tops were going into stock, but'all alike state frankly that they are finding business very good, and arc delivering the combed article in a most encouraging way.

IMPORTS OF TOPS INTO GERMANY. This week particulars are available showrng the quantities of tops imported into Germany during May. It is patent that France has tho lion's portion of the merino top trade, and this is rather significant. It does seem strange that for the month of May no fewer than 584,100 kilos of fine tops should be exported from Iranco to Germany, whilo England onlv sends' 1100 kilos. Before making any furtiler comment, we think it best to give the particulars, which aro as follow:— From Prom From Bel- Enggiiun. France, land. Total. - r . ' Kilos. Kilos. Kilos. Kilos. Merinos 305,700 584,400 1,100 891,200 Crossbreds 117,800 470,CC0 524,500 1,112,3C0 Totals; 423,500 1,054,400 . 525,600 2.C03.500 Totais in April 489,100 1,316,300 555;400 2,360,800 The total quantity imported .in' April, 1911, was 2,553,800 kilos.'. The following are imports from January. 1" to May 31 this year-and last:— 1912.' . 1911. , . . Kilos. Kilos. Merinos 4,700,300 ' 3,591,600 Crossbreds ...... 5,835,500 . 6,389,100 Totals 9,950,7C0 10,538,600 It will be seen from tlie above that in .the aggregate the total is. a trifle below the corresponding shipments for the first five months of last year, but tho reduction is not so great ns to make a serious .difference. ' As- already said., we are.greatly surprised at the:big weights of merino tops, sent from France to Germany, compared with tho insignificant total shipped from England. Wo are rather inclined to think cjic of the reasons is that Franco is shipping shortcombed tops, there being very little done in Bradford on the French principle. This means that imile-sp.i.nuing is far moro common in German mills than here in England, Bradford firms principally combing wool "in oil," whilst those in France follow tho dry combing process. This is entirely duo to the different classes of machinery employed, the customs of the trade, and also the requirements of spinners. At the same time, it is noteworthy that during tho past five years one or two firms in Worstedepolis installed fair numbers of French combs, which means tint fJhorter material can be handled than on the Noble comb. The German dress trade consumes big weights of what are known as rule-spun yarns, which, if .made mit of shorter material, dispose of some fairly big weights of suc-h ordinary lines as nieces, bellies, and even decent loclvS. Three or four Continental ' firms are very large buyers of short carbonisinir fine weds, and after beiiiji carbonised and combed, tho tops are shipped very large to German firms to be spun on the mule principle. The yarns so produced make a softer and fuller handling than fclicso spun Bradford principle, though m value and actual wearing capacity, cap and fly spun yarns are undoubtedly the best The fashions ruling to-day in tlie feminine world are calling for cloths which are suitable for -tailor-made costumes, and no doubt nice soft, woolly fabrics are well suited for this purpose. Even if Bradford spun yarns aro used as warp, and mule-spun yarns put in as weft, they producs some very exquisite materials, and these French combed wools aro favoured by a largo section of tho German trade to-day.

Then there is ono more important consideration. It' is well known that a few of tho largest buying brokers in France, as well as topmakers, do an cxtensivo German business or. financial considerations. . One of tho biggest finns of French brokers in London secures large quantities of.raw material for more than one important firm of German spinners. There aro many firms to-day who aro beholden to others on account of financial considerations, and often that is the explanation why relationships exist'between firms which on the surface seem at times a little peculiar. Still, what matters it so long as the raw material is lieing shifted and duly paid for. That fact is the Alpha and Omega of the trade, and to be told on reliablo authority that business in Germany is good, machinery fully occupied, and everything going well, is tlio best news we can chronicle this week.

A MOVE IN CROSSBRBDS. Turning' to market conditions, another surprise has been sprung upon the tTa.de, and since I last wrote a considerable change has occurrcd particularly at the crossbred end of the trade. It is clearly evident that the way English wool fairs are going has impressed everyone with the sound position of the raw material, and in Bradford considerable busines3 has been done,in wool, tops, and yarns. All through the vacation medium crossbreds have been sluggish, but notwithstanding the prospect of a large quantity of raw material being available, practically all nre convinced that consumption is such that prices are resting upon a firm and safe foundation. The result is that export yarn houses have done considerable business. Buyers say distinctly that they have not been guided in this policy by any accession of new yarn,business on the part of Continental buyers, but. that they have bought largely under the conviction that values are going to bo no lower, and that it is wise to cover any prospective needs. The result is that most crossbred tops have been advanced id. since last week, and tonmakors also state that they have lven able to sell some considerable weights. This is something few exported in view of the near approach of the I/ohdon .Tilly series, but it has clearly imnToved the outlook for the sales, and although the price of crossbred f oris today is just almut on a level with what wool cost at the last sales, there ran be no question ns to tho sound standing of tho raw material. Merinos are firmer than ever, but unchanged in price. All tho best tanmakors are putting on a still bolder front to-day in demanding 2fild. for 0-I's, though some spinners assort that the.v can yet comfortably buy at a forthini lesS. At the same time it .is patent that fine qualities are occupying a very envious position, and are safe.