YORKSHIRE LETTER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2987, 26 January 1917, Page 7

YORKSHIRE LETTER

BOOM IN WOOL

Bradford, November 30, 1916. TJio announcement by the Imperial Government that it hits taken over the New Zealand new clip and also acquired control of the balance of tho Australian clip at 55 per cent, aboyo pre-war values directs attention to the actual standing of the raw material. Those interested V.n the course of wool know tho impG'i'twnt part the raw material lias play\d since the outbreak of ivar, the very fact of values advancing to' record levels proving the need of the article for tho conduct of the war. It will ever bo to the credit of our own Government apd those of our Allies that both soldiers and ,sailors have been clothed in really good materials—fighting forces never being- .turned out 60 well shod and'cfriiJ ae tho armies of Great Britain and her Allies. Of course, this is largely due to the great asset of sheep'and wool owned by Great Britain, while those of our colonies are even more .valuable still. 1 At tho last series of London sales, Vwhen it became known that the Christaburoh sale had been stopped, there was a wild sqeh to cover, the result being that values wore lifted very sensibly indeed. The seventh series were just *about the wildest of any since the outtweak of war, everybody beginning to rswliso what Government control aetuall v means. Ever since the Englieh clip was .commandeered, free wool has been sougl\t after, and prices have gradually moved upwards, and with the New Zealand tfew dip being taken completely out of buyOrs' hands, everybody felt it to be policy .to secure what free wool, they could at the London sales. Of course, there hav« been eteadily expanding militarv needs}, the Army Contracts Department beiny.i considerably blamed for lack of foresight ,in not placing new orders last August, before Bussia filled up a large number' of manufacturers. If orders had been placed then both in Leicester for ■ uosiernss and throughout the West Biding fi?r military fabrics, they would not havio disturbed the market as has been seien during the past six weeks, for up to 5 a month ago crosebreds were distinctly reasonable compared with merino qualities.. At the "beginning of tho seventh serial of sales 4G's carded tops could; be easilv boueht at 2s. 3d. to 2s. 35d. whereas this week 2s. BUI. has been "paid. It would have been infinitely better for both spinners and manufacturers and tho feiovernment if the military orders had; teen covered all round 2e. 31d., for, notwithstanding fixed values for military fabrics as well as Government supplies of wool and tops, the Home and export trades have been very materially disturbed, and more or less crippled, by the very sensible advances of the past month. However,' we are confronted to-day , with extraordinary values, due to tike heavy- orders placed together with a, prospect of ■ the whole of the wool and textile trades being controlled. The following is a useful table, compiled on the figures quoted by Messrs. Buxton, Ronald and Co., at the July series of sales, just.,before the outbreak of war, and current values at the last London sales:—' July, November, Greasy- merino wools. 1914. 1916. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. Vic: Western* good ' quality ■ and condition 16-17 28-29 N.S.W.: . Eiver- ' ina, good stapler and condition ;1 3-J-l 4 2-1-2 5 N.S.W/: Now England; fine, ' bluish '-. IH-1 4!- 2 4-2 5 Qu.: ■ Centra!, , good staple, fnir condition 13-14 2 31-2 i\ W. Aust.-.' Fair length ■ and condition 1 21-1 3J 2 2-23 N.Z.: South Island, fair character 12-1 2?.- 111 -2 0 S. .African: Fair .staple, skirty ... 0 9-0 9J 1 -44-1 SJ Scoured wools. Vic;: Fair body and colour .... 2 3-2 3J 3 8-3 9 Qu.: Good quality, colour and ....condition - 2 3-2-4 3 10-4. 0 N.S.W.: Fair, ! . , pink, rather • fatty 111-2 0 3 44-3 5V N. Zealand: Fair body & colour 2 2J-2 3} .3 8-3 !> S- African: Kaffrarian, short, . ' light 1 MH-1 Wi 2 fi -2 7 " Crossbreds for Khaki Requirements, All along merinos have advanced at a much quicker pace than, crosebreds, tho latter, up to a month ago, being distinctly reasonable and good value. But tho past month has seen all/previous records broken, until this week 'ss. 6d. .has been made for a good 64's top, and crossbreds have made sd. to 6d. per. lb. more than the prices ruling a good month ago. These are serious advances, and the remarkable thing is that users are quite prepared to pay current rates, just ae if they were 500 per cent, low-er. Tho English' clip in the first instance was commandeered last June with the'purpose of counteracting the strong upward tendency of values, and also to make our own Government independent'of supplies from our colonies. Circumstances have developed so quickly that the Army Contracts Department now eees that English wools are not altogether suitable for the production of certain classes of military' fabrics, nor, sufficient, and that in order to make sirre of having enough wool to satisfy, all requirements, they must call in the assistance of Australasian crossbreds. Hence tho Now Zealand clip and the balance of the Australian have been commandeered. There is no doubt that the blending of English and New Zealand crossbreds makes a very acceptable fabaric for military purposes, and it is to be lioped that as far as possible our own Army Contracts' Department (will see that the ordinary serge is made from 0 worsted warp and a woollen weft. Crossbred wool is unsurpassed for all military fabrics,, and, therefore, the movement of values for these is all the more interesting., Wo givo below a. table showing the effect of the war upon crossbred wools, our particulars furnishing the with values before the ■war brote out, and those current today:— July, Nov., . , . -.- 1914. 1916. New Zealand.' 1 d. d. d. d. Halfbred, super, 50's56's 161-171 26J-27J Or&tisbred, raedi-uin,, 46's 121-13 21 -22 Crossbred, coarse, 40's 11 -11* 19J-201 Crossbred, coarse, 3G's 11 -\\\ 19 -19i It is impossible to separate eliped crossbreds from greasy fleece, the former being wools turned out by the large New Zealand freezing- establishments. They have played a most imptortajifc paa-t in the production of khaki. We give below the lowest price these wools over touched, what they wero worth just before the war broke out, and to-day, and tho effect of the great lchaki boom upon every class is clearly demonstrated:— Nov.-E-ec, July, Nov., 1901. 1914: 1916. Desscription. d. A. J. <j. Slipo, hfllfbred combing lambs G - 17* 31 -311 Slipe, three-quarter-bred com bin? lambs 4J 15} 29J-.30 Slipe, crossbred combing lambs U U\ 071 ■Slipe, Lincoln lambs i\ 12\, 26 Slipe, halfbred combing C 17 281 Slipe, crossbred Ist combing 6} 11 27 -275 Slipe, Lincoln let combing 5 12,} 24 -25 Slipe, thi'oo-qiiarter-bred conibin;: 5$ 13 271 Slipe, crossbred combing 41 121- 26 Slipe, crossbred seconds 31 H 20-21 Slipe, crossbred clothing 4 !H- 21 The event of the week Ims been the announcement by the Government of tho commandeering of the New Zealand new clip andthe balanco of the Australian clip. In the absence of details, any statement is inadvisable The trade was looking forward.. to tho holding of the final series in Coleman Street, but t.liese have been postponed n week. If such are held there is certain to be a scramble to get hold of free wools, for months must elapse before any-New Zealand erossbreds can possibly arrive in this country aud get into the hands of users.