YORKSHIRE WOOL TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1613, 3 December 1912, Page 8

YORKSHIRE WOOL TRADE.

THE GENERAL TJTTLTTY OF MEDIUM MERINOS. (From Our Special Correspondent.) Bradford, October 25, 1912. There is always great anxiety manifest on the part of wool users regarding the condition and character of the growing clip, for they all know by practical experience that poor wool means deficient tops, yarns, and pieces, and the iniornia,tion that the new Australian clip is deficient in length, soundness,. and general character has been disturbing the peace of' many woolmen for months. If there 'is ! ono "thing in life which no man can fight against, it is the dictates'ot nature, though no doubt many would make considerable changes in that respect if Ihey had the power to do. I sat round the hearthstone one night this week with a visitor from Australia, and as we discussed tho climatic and pastoral conditions cf that country, lie rightly remarked that it could scarcely have too much rain, and that everybody welcomes a bountiful rainfall. Snid he: "Australia always smiles and rejoices, and prosperity is writ, upon the country when there is a good supply of moisturn." No doubt that is correct, and to find deficient clip iconfronting the industry is one of those things which to sny the least is not being looked upon with feelings of joy by any section of the trndo. However, tho sheep which have survived hay© been shorn,' and their fleeces baled and sent to market. Tha i.ew clips from Queensland, New South Wales, and West Australia, which we were privileged to inspect at the last series of London_ sales, showed unmistakable signs rf having encountered adverse weather, and it was only too' patent that there is uoing to bo a surfeit this next nine months of short, mushy, and tender wool. This is a fact which is causing concern to a good many, for they know from past experience that bad wool brings in its train increased cost of working, and produces nothing near as satisfactory results as cue could desire. ADELAIDE'S THIRD SALE. Last Monday Messrs. Elder, Smith end Co., Ltd., published a most acceptable cablegram giving the results of 'their third Adelaide sale, and whon the particulars were made known on Bradford Exchange, everyone was given to see that pronounced strength still characterised Australian markets. One member of the Exchange distinctly said he doubted if Eomo of the clips would hiivo mado much more in Coleman Street, and a good many buyers must 1)0 in Great need of the raw material to pay the "long" prices which they did. There is general agreement that average (Si's made'out.of wool bought in Adelaide will cost 27Jd., and eorno put the price at 28d. Whatever the figure, and no doubt tons will cost no less, wool continues to sail in a remarkable way, and much importance attaches to Adelaide sale results on account of the fairly good condition of tho wool. This week's Australian mail brings tho intelligence that the South Australian clip is sounder, and longer in staple, than the majority expected. , Full details of the first sale which took place in Adelaide on September 19 have come to hand, from which we learn that prices sewn to hnve been very satisfactory when viewed from overy standpoint. That is exceedingly good nows both to the Homo and Continental trades, and tile present eager competition to obtain "warp" Adelnido wools accounts to some extent for the excellent prices which are being paid. Adelaide wools no doubt, possess a good nftme, particularly anion-; tonmakers. and there is evidence of the importance (if having a very good supply in ilie keen fiirht which is bcinjf made to secure something showing good length, soundness, and first-class combing property. As a matter of fact, tlieso characteristics ore associated with South Australian, wools, and topmakers in Bradford to-day appear to bi> very anxious to secure an adequate supply of them in order to meet their requirements for the coming year. Tt may be news t<l some vendors to know that the wools grown in South nnd West Australia tiro (imonc the most popular juorisce that Eβ te wdL,

ttiose attending both Adelaide arid London markets know the exceedingly etronj? support which the Home trade gives to this class of staple. Why? Simply because thero is about these wools the very properties- which topmakere want, for everyone knows that it is impossible to produco a satisfactory top unless the raw material in the first instance shows length, strength, and soundness. At the recent series of London sales, West Australia furnished some very good lines of new clip" wools, only one portion of a well-known, brand from Adelaide being catalogued. The exceedingly good prices which were made in all cases are explained by the points which I have already named. There is general agreement that the large use which West Australian' pastoralists have made' of South Australian blood has been an advantage, and to a largo extent accounts for the splendid competition which.has always been; in fact, it has been often remarked that fully as ■ good prices are forthcoming for sha-fty, well-grown West Australian wools as for any other class produced throughout Australia. Let me impress upon growers the importance of keeping well-grown, sheep ' that will produce a fieeoa of good combing wool; No doubt.the trade wants quality, and the writer would be the last; man in,the world to under-value this most essential characteristic. At the. same time, one questions very much if West and South Australia will ever be distinguished for producing what woolmen call superfine merino wools. One cannot .resist saying that these tip-top quality incrjfnos wil'l be grownJ more easily and profitably in New South Wales and Queensland, and when all is said and done, far larger quantities of medium merinos are required, say GO's. and 70's wools, than superfine descriptions, which sell at from 14d. to 15d. per ,Ib. What undoubtedly ]W made South and West Australia to be known most-are good, all-round wools of a useful stamp. These are largely bought by the Home; nnd Continental trades, and it will be , a,.thousand pities if ; ever.. ; these two States allow their produce to deteriorate, and grow wool of less desirable features. .DEMAND FOR GOOD WOOLS. : As already said, the chief features characterising the wools of West and South Australia are length, soundness of staple, and medium quality. I refer especially to the two former, because of the surfeit •of faulty grown wools which are certain to be in'evidence for many months to come. It is quite-true that to-day the Balkan trouble is a disturbing factor, and lias given rise to a little concern throughout manufacturing districts. But I fail to see much chance of long, sound combing wools selling at any less money than they are to-day, because, they are needed to pull through the combing machine less desirable and shorter grown merinos, and will continue to be wanted for that purpose. The writer knows one of the largest firms in Bradford whose top is largely composed of South Australian super 60's, and which has made for itself a name because of its length and good Spinning property. I make bold to say that if this firm did not avail themselves, largely of South and West Australian wools, their name would,l>3 lost in three months; and whatever, the price, they are'always big buyers both in Adelaide and London for the wools named. Here we have- the most important reason why these s'hafty grown wools will ever remain in favour, for it can be taken for granted, that well-grown,, sound combing wools will always sell in preference to the shorter ond more mushy sorts, which are always in evidence when drought affects the Commonwealth. 'This fact no doubt has had something to do 7 '! I j > , tlm ' d Adelaide sale passing off so splendidly, and although some seem to be a little doubtful regarding the future, the wisest firms are making good use of the opportunity to secure some good weight of wool while they are there to buy Uβ are .glad that both West and South Australian wools nre still attracting tho eye of the trade, and as for as one can see, the prospect for the sale of these remains as good as ever. What will bring, about any temporary eet-back m the market will be the .shorter and mushy grown wools, but for raw material showing length, soundness, ' and good combing property, the demand boos fair to be well maintained for many months to come. A HALT CALLED. The market this week in Bradford has shown signs of quietness, and there is nothing near the business doing that one has boon accustomed to see during the past three months. As much interest as ever is manifest in the course of colonial markets AH Bradford importers alike state that wool is too dear f or them, yet we suppose they will be buying as much as they possibly can at their limits. It is right to say that thero are still importing top-makers quite prepared to sell for January delivery at 27d., but there are few buyers. That price looks I to us most reasonable, but, as usual, ! spinners want to.lo in at SGJd.,.a price which is too low by a penny. The writer (loos not remember a year when so little d s ,J >een done on forward account in eratliord as this season, both top-makers and spinners being indifferent about doing business. No doubt, some bigweights ot Gis can be disposed of very readily on a basis of 26Jd., but such a prico is impossible in face of what wool is selling at in Australia. We certainly, think that there is no justification for anyone taking even 27d., for no less business would be done if nil top-makers nliko held out for id. to Id. more. However, there 'is less doing, and I am certain that less disposition is shown to anticipate the future. Merino top-mokers appear to be well sold forward, and are . therefore content to rest upon thoir present contracts, their concern being to buy wool and not soil tops. Some seem to think that if they remain put of the market, it will facilitate a little ease in Australia, but that remains to bo seen. So long as tho Continental section remains in 'the picture as keen buyers, it does not look as if prices will ease much, if any, and as far as one can sec there is little prospect of cheaper rates.