YORKSHIRE LETTER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2984, 23 January 1917, Page 8

YORKSHIRE LETTER

PRICE OF MERINO TOPS (From Our Special Correspondent.) Bradford, November 23, I'M. Ono hardly knowa what Jo write at a time like the- present, and particularly after the news of tlio last Adelaide sale. It makes one look a second time when over Is. 9d. is paid for several clips on tho spot, but it serves to'enow what really is tho value of the raw material. Ono hears old ivoolmen, ivho well remember tho early seventies, contrasting tlic prices of that day with those of tho present, and 1316 values eclipse all previous records. But the trado to-day is more often contrasted with 1895, when the very best station scoured wools from some of the Central Queensland clips were selling in London at H<l. to 15d., with the same article to-day being worth fully 4s. per lb. In fact, the writer well remembers purchasing oiVs of the top lines of the Northamnton Downs clip all about that year at lod., and as far as one remembers the wool was-quitc as good then ae it is to-day. These remnrks find their birth in the fact that C-t's, are to-day worth ss. 3d. per II). in Bradford, a price that is sufficient to make old hands in the trade stand aghast. One Bradford importing house lias made the statement this week that Adelaide clean scoured cost is all round 4s. 2(1., landed here in Bradford, which means practically 5(1. in the top, but no one.knows when that wool will bo landed and when it will be converted into tops, consequently ss. 2d. to ss. 3d. is not today by any means an outrageous price. It is littlo use spinners refusing to pay it, because no matter what the price, holders 6eem to be able to dispose of and therefore there is to-djy a readiness to operate which stands out in strong, contrast to other days when tho price of tops was not half" what they are worth to-day.

Where Merinos are Being Used,

One would think, judging by the prico of the raw material, that at ss. 3d. per lb. for a merino top, the price would be prohibitive, but such is not altogether the case. One of our friends remarked the other diy that never in all his thirty years' history of the Bradford trade hacl ne found such a demand for sG'a as he" had done- during the past fortnight, there being everywhere a desire to substitute for the merino. But while that may be 6o in one case, it is not the general experience of the average topmaker. Of course laterly there has been a vory bit; demand for fine crossbred tops, essentially for serges and also military purposes, but all the same merinos, while certainly nearincr a prohibitive level, are still selling 111 considerable weights, and would sell still moro if they could he delivered in anything like reasonable time. Somehow merino wool in Bradford these last two months has been used up in a remarkable manner, for whereas three months ago commission wool combers could not possfßly accept more orders, they are to-day a«Mn<r f or wool, and even private firms owning their nwn machinery are to-day propared to accommodate a man with merino wool to comb. This being so it is absolutely roH-nin thnt the trade is q v! ™J 7 -, to lift tllß nlerinn wool "in to hand.' ,8 * epnnk,iß « ° f ™ r H^ what l arem ? ri,lo3bein S 1IS «1 for at Hi? present rcord values. There ie „„ $ 3'!' of .this class of material being used into nuLtary fabrics either of one kind °r !f £" oth «r. Even for underclothing our soldiers and sailora are having to put up »ith something less fine than merino quant), and no one grumbles The labile* which the British Tommy it wearing are alUremarkably good in fact it » eafe to ear that nevfr before, fn r ms Ivar havfl oith « - soldiers or to da? t"i 'V? • Clothed are n( ,ifi s- £r e , fact ls remarkable that neither publicly nor privately has tli-re nfrt a °J B': umWiD e mto the character ot thei clothing worn, but it may be said that fine merinos are all going into civilian and export trade, and somehow there is quite as great an outlet for merino made fabrics, as there is machinery available for turning out the goods In December, 1914. we saw the tjade alrnCst iunking" because it did not know how the machinery available could get through the big -weight of Australian wool that confronted the trade, but since that day two Australian clips have been dealt with and handled at .•β-oid values, it being really wonderful to iii.d tno trade" as near the sheep's back- ; n iact uearer-than at any time in the world's history.. All this has oeen done without any assistance whatever from Germany's competition, and consumption. Jt makes one's blood boil as wj nni 'j'o papers this week to find that the civilian population of Belgium has been majvJied in slave-like fashion to Germain-, there to endure still greater hardships, and to think that in tho future ' the German nation will be amongst tTie first to clamour for colonial wool when peace is declared. Wo have repeatedly stated in recent months that the wool trade of the world can do without German competition entirely, and it is the writer's* firm conviction that a tariff will be imposed against Germany both tor inghsli and all colonial wools. The merino fabrics being largely made to-day are fine hosieries, rainproofe, coatings, and other fancy mixture cloths. Of course, anyone to-day purchasing merino fabrics has not to consider the question ot price, but must be prepared to get "is land well down into his pocket, and paj what the retailer is demanding, iibtne of the best-known manufacturers of hosiery underwear have just about ■doubled their price for all wool underclothing, and to-day one must be prepared to pay anywhere from 12s. to 15s, a pair for either pants or combinations. In tho case of woysted cloth, there is very little indeed being produced under 10s. a yard, and blue serges that were selling wholesale at ss. Gd. per yard before the war are to-day worth practically, 12s. per yard. Of course, it makes a.littlo difference when one comes to buy a new suit, but to-day a sovereign more has to be paid without much quibbling if a man wants a merino article. Tho question of substitution is no doubt being seriously considered, and wherever possible something of a lower order is being utilised. During the past month crossbreds have advanced in a wonderful fashion, for, whereas 2s. 3!d. would buy the best 46's carded top on the market at the commencement of the last series of eales., to-da/e price is 2s. 71d. to 2s. Bd., and both 50's and 56's liavo risen something like 4d. to sd. per lb. Wool .booms everywhere, and it looks as if prices have hardly touched the top where immediate delivery can be given. Bradford Market. /' The situation docs not show a great deal of change compared with last week. There are now several cables to hand' from Australia, which all indicate a. very strong overseas' market, and topmakers are more determined than over in their attitude. They see how foolish it to sell what they Lave not got, and the uncertainty of the delivery of wool does not dispose them to book increased obligations. .In fact, tho ma-1 jority of tho firms will not quote at all, and M's 'are to-day worth anywhere from ss. 2d. upwards, it being frequently stated that ss;, 3d. has been made for delivery as far forward as next March. This 6eems almost incredible, but aptimisin etill prevails, and many assert that still more money will be paid for botany and fine crossbred tops. The actual business passing is very limited. Yesterday it was reported that 3s. 3d- had been refused for 50's, and even 4G's carded are quoted as high as 2s. 7Jd., a rise of id. per lb., compared with'a month ago. Many firms feel it safest not to quote for anything. Yarn 6pinners aro as much at a lose as topmakers. • A very big forward business has been done, and orders to-day aro being, taken on condition that they will not bo bound to delivery dates. Prices are to be revised if necessary wiien manufacturers are in a position to give delivery. The Government is still experimenting with English wool, and while lately more military orders have been placed there are still more availablo for machinery suitable for the' purpose.