OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1791, 2 July 1913, Page 10

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER

4- ■ WOOL OF THE EMPIRE. CROSSBREDS IN NEW ZEALAND. (From Our Special Correspondent.) Bradford, May 23, 1913. 11l writing about tho wools of the British Empire, it is scarcely possible to avoid saying something anent the important part which wool plays in tho textilo manufacturing world. Whatever may be said to the contrary, it is an undoubted tact that wool leads the way when materials suitable for clothing the human body are concerned.- It has to bo admitted that the high price of wool, at the present time is compelling users to uso other and inferior fibre.-, in order to be ablo to make the fabrics tliev produce come in at a price which will k-avo them a reasonable profit and suit the purse of the public. II ut when all this has been conceded, it may still be affirmed that wool is dear, chiefly because there is not plenty of it, and the substitution which is going on in the trade to-day is closely rivalled by the wonderful cycles through which the genuine article passes in its progress from the raw wool state to -the finished fabric, only to begin again and go through the sarno process after having Uad their day and served their immediate purpose. It is quite within tho mark then to say that wool holds a placo second to none in its own sphere, and that one of the principal parts' played by materials used in conjunction with it is to help out and give more body to fabrics which have gone through one period of existence, and are about to commence another. - The hygienic value of wool is one of the properties which has placed it on a high level in the textile sphere, and its adaptability for all climates has contributed to make it still more to be desired in all parts of the world. Taking, for example, our own variable climate, there is nothing which is anything near as satisfactory _ when something is wanted which will fill tho bill by providing exactly the kind of material required. In view of these things, and taking into account also t/ho .vast multitudes of the world's populace which need to be clothed, it should be well worth while to devote some little space to tho consideration of the leading products which are devoted to that purpose, and the • sources from which they come. Position of Australasia. That Australasia piuys a leading part in producing the world's wool 'will bo granted by all who have anything like a reasonable acquaintance witu the textile world, and there is no plnce where progress has been so well sustained Iroin tho start, and where wool production is carried out on more scientific lines. In writing about the wools of Australasia, the first thoughts which arise in the mind aro those relating to the quality of the wools now produced compared with the early, days of the industry, and briefly it may be said that while tho change in the character of the wools has been going on, an equally great change has taken place in the needs of the consuming public. Perhaps it may bo argued that the change in the wools is the outcome of a new demand, a hew call which had not previously been made. This is truo in part, but not wholly so, for tho fact remains that whatever tho public needs, there are certain limits to tho possibilities. which lie in tho hands of those who cater for their needs. Furthermore,.eagerness to produce plenty has brought many growers into conflict with this matter of quality' about which we are speaking. Again, the opening out of new areas consequent upon the expansion of tiio industry itself, and also tho inevitable competition of arable, culture, has brought into tho sheep-farmer's hand, soil and pasture which will never produce' anything but a certain fixed type of wool, and this i in spito of the fact that tho needs of the user may bo- quite different. Hero wo have then one of the salient features of j tho Australasian wool trade. Quantity has increased vastly;-but in' tho. aggregate'; the proportion of fine quality wools is j decreasing, tho result being that those who are so favourably situated that they can do so, "and will endeavour to produco the finer fleeces, can command very good prices. There can bo no denying that when all things are considered Australasia ' has mado most satisfactory advancement in wool production since the early days of the industry. The appended figures show the number of Australasian sales—with their gross value and overage value per bale —from 189S-99 to 1911-12 inclusive;— Gross Average ' value, per bale. Season. Bales. £ £ s. d. 189S-99 799,379 8,730,525 10 18 6 1899-00 897,031 13.503,594 16 14' 8 1900-01 708,677 6,176,053 8 11 10 1001-02 931,660 8,708,587 . 9 6 4 1902-03 ...... 739,338 8,810,840 11 18 4 1903-04 * 837,497 ' 10,0-16,656 .12 0 0 1901-05 ...... 1,092,651 13,525,269 12 13 1 1905-0G ...... 1,354,865 18,304,012 13 10 3 1906-07 1,537,798 21,835,131 14 3 11 1907-08 1,351,121 17,577,249 13 0 -2 1908-09 1,657,906 18,805,529 11 6 10 1909-10 1,859,745 25,712,774 13 12 2 1910-11 1,865,167 23,316,602 12 10 4 1911-12 1,926,926 22,662,090 11 16 . 5 1912-13* 1,500,000 —, — , *Australian sales only. The Crossbred in New Zealand, Tho wools of New Zealand aro preeminently of the crossbred type; and there is no fact so certain as that New Zealand wool produco fills what would have been a serious gap . if it had not been available. What the rank and file of the world's populace would havo done to-day if the crossbred wool industry hod never developed is difficult to say, for not only has a most valuable supply of feed in the 6hape of mutton been created, but the wools, though of coarser type, occupy a position of their own, and are always readily received by the members of the trade who are interested in buying wool, and whoso requirements do not compel them to go in for fine sorts. In New Zealand the merino seems to bo liaviug to play second fiddle, for according to returns the number of that breed of sheep in the country is not much moro than 50,000. Tho reason for this decline may readily be found in the improving market which has been found for crossbred wool and mutton, though in. one sense it is to be regretted that tho number of finewoolled sheep is sa small. Financial considerations are always important in any enterprise, but the fact that there are so few merinos is in. itself an argument in favour of tho number being maintained, if not actually increased. The crossbred trade in wool and mutton caunot be continued unless thero are pure breeds to draw upon to keep up tho standard and maintain tho requisite degree of purity, for "crossbred" docs not stand for "mongrel," and seeing that the merino has' played such an important part in tho evolution of the crossbred in Now Zealand, it is no more than reasonable to ask that, the merino bo restored to its rightful place. When fine wool and the sheep which produce it aro scarce, there cannot be the slightest question that it will pay those who can to go in for them. That New Zealand is abl to produce iine-woolled sheep is quite true, and before to-day merino wool from that country which has been sold in London has made excellent prices. Fifteen pence ■ per lb. was made so recently as March for greasy super combing, and corresponding prices for other descriptions. In order'to show the statistical position which New Zealand occupies in the wool world, we give below the liuinlber of sheep in the Islands and the number of bales of wool exported during each of the past twelve years:— Wool. Sheep. Season. Bales. Tear. Tl. flocks. 1901-02 396,949 1901 20,2,13,099 1902-03 425,954 1902 20,343,600 1903-04 372,146 £ 1903 18,955,000 1904-05 376,7G5 1301 18.251.C00 1905-0 414,635 1905 19,131,000 190G-07 427,058 1906 20,105,000 1907-08 433,911 1907 20,954,000 1908-09 491,757 1908 22,409,000 1909-10 512,938 1909 23,481,000 1910-11 493,372 1910 23,073,000 1911-12 493,368 1911 21,269,620 South African Wools, In dealing with South African wools it must be said that they have not yet attained to such a position of prominence ( as is enjoyed by most of the Australian sorts. Tlii* is partly due to the fact that South Africa is a comparatively young country, and has not yet had time fo irain the experience and acquire the proficiency ■ whioh Austral in displnyi. No doubt tho dilfemea is- also .

in 6ome measure attributable to the stronger feelings of prejudice which exist not only in the minds of the rank and file of gruwers, but also in high quarters. Perhaps it will bo well if we speak some what in tho past lonse with regard to this prejudice, for it is unquestionably true that it is gradually being dissipated. It is to be regretted, however, that too much unwillingness to eomo into lino with modern knowledge and requirements has to lx> contended against, and until South Africa throws off her reserve altogether, she cannot expect to be fully recognised, or to bo able to tako her stand among the world's wool producers without a blush. Ono moro word may bo added. The climatic conditions and soil peculiarities of South Africa are such that pastoralists there can never expect to be able to compete on equal terms with Australia, liie Cope wools usually leave nothing to be desired in the matter of quality, the majority of users in Bradford and other centres .will not deny, but their condition militates seriously against them, and when wools are heavy and known to be deceptive in .yield buyers cannot be expected to compete for them keenly.