OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2476, 1 June 1915, Page 8

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER

AMERICAN SHEEP AND WOOL INFERIOR TO COLONIAL

(From Our Special Correspondents Bradford, April 18, 1915. Ino trade is remarkably free at the moment oi anything of an outstanding nature, and we .-seem ito have reached a period such as a vessel outward bound tor Australia sometimes encounters, namely, a dead calm, when there is lnrtlly a ripple upon the surface of the ocean. Such ii state of affairs obtains to-day in the wool world. 111 the expoit blanch oi' the trade there continues to be a fair amount of grumbling at 'the continued ab>enco ot licenses, at least shipping wooi abroad is by no means a lightsome proceeding. Perhaps the raw material itself is being allowed out of the country with as much freedom as anything, but whon it comes to sending tops, noils, wastes, and yarns, it is not all plain I sailing. American textile journals seem !to have upbraided England a good deal 1 for her conservative policy, out wool would never have been declared contraI band but for the action of a few firms who deliberately violated all sense of reason when viewed from an English-speak-ing standpoint, and whatever inconvenience American firms may have been put to on account of delayed shipments, it is only the result of a well-known cause. However, there is now evidence of Americans receiving at much colonial wood as they can comfortably deal with, and the mo V e s ' loK ' c i ' )0 a " improvement in ,the textile conditions of the country. It 13 a mystery to the majority of spinners and manufacturers throughout Great. Britain that American mills languish month alter month as they are doing, for 00 mil 1011s of people ought to be well able to keep their own domestic plants ninnmg. It is quite true that under the present tariff increased imports of foreign made textiles have taken place, but a huge country like America ought to bo in a position to absorb very much more woollen and worsted goods than Europe has sent, and American spindles and looms are proaucing, but evidently the high cost of living is limiting the purchasing power of the average American, and there are comparatively few whose wardrobes contain a surplus of wool made fabrics It seems to many English economists that if living could be cheapened, the rank and file American would have more spending power, which would tell tor good in the better running of Ameri can mills, and would also lead to a larger consumption of fabrics made from wool.

Are American Wants Supplied? A careful analysis of the reports coming Zu 0m i., • an<l Boston clearly show that there is now no longer any lack ot raw material, tor manufacturing: purposes Directly the embargo was lifted last Jatuary, United Slates buyers set to work in all markets, and secured' a bi" weight. I his is now arriving in American ports, and from all accounts the wool ou iMNd is quite sufficient to more than satisfy present requirements. All this n taken to mean that active American competition at succeeding London sales, and for that matter in Australia too, cannot be looked for during the next low months at the least, American manu'actuiors being more concerned about the activities at their own mills than buying more raw material. For months we Lava been greatly concerned about the state of the American textile industry. Mills have been busiest during the past six months which have been engaged in the manufacture of khaki and hosiery fabrics for European armies, but many doubt if more orders will be forthcoming, and to all appparance American mills .will be dependent still more upon their owu resources. There is certainly room for distinct improvement in American mills, and it would be a good thing for many a firm if thoy could command more orders from their own market. The export of fullymade fabrics to the United States from England during recent months lias been very limited. To-day we should say thai New Zealand manufacturers have their own market more at their finger ends than they have ever had, and it is to bo lif.ped that they will be able to command sutlicient orders to keep running their own plants. The reader can see that when shipments of semi and i'uily-inado textiles from France and Germany have ceased, the United States has its market at its own feet, and if they cannot meet requirements now it wilt be a dark day indeed when normal conditions again prevail, and German, French, and Belgian mills begin to turn out their usual quantities ot woven fabrics.

American Sheep and Wool, The recent luinouuuwent of abut seventy Comedale ewea and rams being snipped from i\ew Zealand to tlie United States directs attention to the condition of tne sueep aJidwool iuduscry in the United States. This is a new breed ol sheep to practically all American pastoralists, and we anticipate that it will give u good account of'itself, for it glows a good fleece. The writer has carefully examined Corriedale wcoi many a ume in Coleman Street, wliere it is oiten sold as good halfbred'. To a wool buyer it matters not wiiat tile name of the wool is, providing tlic article is right. A buyer judges a neece according to quality, lengin, strength, and con(liliun. The writer lias no qualms in saying that American sheep and wool are interior lo tin* average --luslraliaii merinos or New Zealand crossbreils, and tlit> sooner American sheep men take a leaf out of the book oi' the pastoralists of Australasia ithe sooner will they get their Hocks to a higher standard of excellence, and oil a broader paying basis, In niaiilug that sIaLL-mi'iic, tne writer knows what he is talking about. 11' our American friends will only pult on oue side it good deal of their bluster and get down to hard facts, tile sootier tliej will be able to meet the competition which free wool has produced, and the very "bedt thing American sheep journals could do would be to advocate the importation frjm Australasia of oU0,0l)t) stun ewes ami rams lor the benefit of the general sheep ami wool trade oi' the States. The writer is convinced that the sooner lilt; hcavy-yoikcd merino is abandoned, the bolter it w'il be for the United State sheepmen. They have been labouring too long under a delusion. The quality of the merinos at present produced in the States may be all right, but ithere is something which appeals to a wool buyers besides qualify, U 7 hen we contrast their own merinos with some of the rank and file clips from Australia, American wools are deficient by ib per cent. When a sheep is turning off, say, an average of itrn to twelve pounds of good commercial wool that is shrinking 110 more than 52 per cent., it is a far better article than a twelve pound fleece that is going to shrink 'tho top side of 65 per'cent., and we say that the sooner American sheepmen b;gin to grow a better stapled merino with a higher percentage of clean yield, more al'ler the Kiveriua order, the bettc.r they will be able to face the competition of the outside world. American buyers know the general excellence ol >.ew Zealand crossbred*. In fact, any conscientious American importer will readily admit that the merino and crossbred of Australasia are far ahead of United Stales produce, and there is ample room for improvement on the lines indicated. Steady, Healthy Trade. The market does not show a great deal of change. We find that a nice, averago trade is passing without that push and go which has been so strongly in evidenco during recent months. There is abroad a spirit of soberness which we have not -■eon for a long time, and although markets are quieter, oil the whole prices remain fairly steady and firm. Where spot del iverv id concerned, loymakers arc ablo to command very good figures indeed, in fact, values are being paid which cer tainly are tall ones, and ailhough here and there '2a. Sd. is being Liken for lii'* tops lor spot delivery, not u few ar<* firm at 2s. B\d. it is possible to buy for next .July and hilrr months ai a Traction loss money than weiiliy, although xuue top makers will not quote lor anything tlii.% fide ol August and Hepfember. Tho matket really i* adopting u waiting nUtU tude. and topmnkers are very pleased wiih tlio quioU*r Miitt* oi affairs. They aro now jfoiiifi Ut Ih* given the opportunity of redeeming I heir oblige! tons and carrying out. contrnchs. Hump v-M nmnv' ;.r----rcnr< kh;iki m:ii>pf;irhirrrs. I{. is a t-ifi thai Mipt.lv 1.;.s ... ivrll ni*r. taken demand. As ?: of j.uM. many *pinnrr« hnve ree<'j V p f | m-trui-Hon* to delay deliveries, ami many firms iissetf. IJjI&Y ara last approaching the end ,

'of their lecent khaki contracts. All ihis means that tho market is quieter, although consumption is well maintained. A tnosl: hopeful feeling obtains, and there is nothing to indicate any material lowering of value.-), although for tlie lime being prices have reached the ton notch. Machinery is being run at its utmost capacity, and eertniniy there is every indication of wool being wanted as much na ever. "\Yo find business everywhere in a very henlthy state, and the outlook favours a continuance of ito-day's satisfactory demand and consumption.