YORKSHIRE LETTER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3152, 2 August 1917, Page 10

YORKSHIRE LETTER

. ■ . _ » CAN WOOL BE DISPLACED ?

(From Our Special Correspondent.) „ London, June 14. Much has been heard recently in -wool trade eiroles about Government policy, and by this time it would appear to be dominating everything connected -with tho industry. Of course, all this arises out of the present disturbed statu of affairs in the business world, it being practically imposiblo to continue in the old ways when such a gigantic war is being wagedi Tho policy referred to has been protty clearly defined so far a.s its ultimate objects have been concerned. Military needs in the way of clothing have beeu paramount. The necessity for maintaining trade with other countries as much as possible has also been realised, this in order to keep money coming into the country, and thereby help the National Exchequer. Home requirements have oomo last because the public at Home arc expected to economise as much us possible, though it seems to hSye been difficult to drive the lesson hbmc. This has been particularly true in the matter of clothing, and though the claims of the stomach are usually credited with being more powerful than personal appearance, which undoubtedly they -would be if it came to absolute necessity, the, authorities. would have no easy task to bring down the rank and file ■of tho country to the niggardliness- and misery of wearing threadbareclothes. During the. last week or two there have been further indications of desire'to see substitutes for wool used for home manufacturing reqhirements, and with regard to the export trade, less encouragement seems likely to be given to anything of <t wool nature which is not in the full manufactured state. Even this is bringing to light other facts which do not help to make the position any better. There'is a working and consuming public in the countries of our Allies as well as at home, and when their requirements are being interfered with, there is just as much possibility of unrest as there is here. One cannot look with feelings of satisfaction upon any measures which tend- to disturb the industrial position in ah Allred country, for this might, reflect moro or less- upon our own land. There arc manufacturing commodities produced in this country, upon which some of our Allies rely in order to keep their machinery going, ana provido their own requirements. For these needs to cease would mean a, temporary reduction iu wool consumption, and if this could not be counteracted by the crcatiou of now markets or the extension of others already existent the outlook would bo exceedingly unsatisfactory. The authorities are evidently finding that it is not all plane sailing with respect to keeping/up the export end of the trade, and now it would appear as if thore is a feeling that there is scope in this country for tho consumption of all partly manufactured products which have hitherto elsewhere. This is scarcely in harmony with tho working of fewer hours in oirr own mills, and one cannot help wondering what will bo tho outcome of it all.

Government Orders and Concessions. There have' been very few of the latter named, and even such as have been'maffo have rather helped to mystify -than oliar wise: Permission has been given to botany topmakers to put on one side their Government contracts, and to go on working of their own orders. On the surface this looks encouraging to the ordinary trade, but in reality it is not so. It. is quite, evident that, tho Department have ias many botany tops as they require for military purposes, and are therefore giving the privilege named. Spinners seem to have quite as large a volume of this description of topß as is necessary to keen their machinery going, and are therefore not. making application. Even now that the privilege is afforded to work off the old civilian contracts, it does not follow as a, logical consequence that anything of a practical nature is being done to assist .trade. If sninners are. not. mailing application ■■ for further supplies oi tops for Government use,, ibey are not, likely .to' be able to deal' with the old orders which they themselves have had to-nut on ono side, consequently. CVifli if the wool is combed, spinners will not. feel themselves in a position to take tho tops. This secma to show fairly clearly into'what a stato'tr'ado has been brought solely by Government control'.

Home-grown New Clip Valuos, Last week reference was made to (he prices which growers in this country arc receiving for their new clip. The list sent was a. goneral one, being a. summary of prices for England and • Wales. More detailed figures, have .also been published, each area into which the country has been divided having a list of its own. Looked'at from the writer's point of view the English grower seems to have the best end of the stick: certainly .he iB not pressed and harried in the many ways with which merchants and users have to contend. No doubt, it feels a. hardship to be compelled to deliver oi]e'tf wool, and accept prices decided upon by so'mc one else, but even when. allowance has been made for the this the farmers do not. appear to .be required to go very much out of tlieir way. The clips have been dclivcrcn at the local centre, and the raethdd lints .been introduced or requiring that unless ■A morchant has a local connection. tßal is unless he has been in the habit or buying withiu a certain area in past years, •ho"cannot stop In casually, and buy in that way this time. This, of course, riisang the destruction of further merchanting (.business, and is another evidence, of the 'wav in which old standards are being nulled down. The Government are not likely to forbid farmers keeping sheep and growing' w?ci, and so long Si they are allowed to keep this privilege, there, is little-need to fear that, their wool will not he marketed at 6ome price or other. Will Wool Ever be Displaced? An interesting suggestion was made at a recent meeting of the War Trade Department 'in London. ' The officials connected with that body arc evidently closely i watching the tactics of the enemy with regard to the use of wool substitutes, and it was • suggested that in view of the fact that Germany is using paper yarns, cellulose, etc., investigations might be made in this country with a view to. finding out what could be done in the same direction. Headers will remember that increased substitution in the manufacture of fabrics for home use has previously been recommended. The idea appears to be that the best should he reserved for our, soldiers and sailors, and that the people at home should fall back upon anything elso which could be found to take the place of wool. Of course, cotton has played a large part in fabrics which are nominally of a wool character, and it is only right' that if wool is a really better article, our fighting men should have the benefit of it. These suggestions, however/ which have been made with a view to using anything which may be found suitable to take the place of the' fleece of the sheep, make one i ask the question: Will wool ever, be displaced? The) writer docs not think it will. Even after wo have described what wool is as much as possible, and dilated upon all its manufacturing characteristics, there seems to. bo something about it which is undcfinablo. This something, whatever it' is, helps to give it a standing so strong that it is never likely to be displaced altogether by any manufacturing substitute. Perhaps the fact is that the prejudice of the consuming public has something to do with the matter. The writer is convinced that so long as an adequate quantity of wool is available it will continue to. be used. Cotton occupies the premier position in conjunc(ion vflth wool, and seems to be well adapted for blending purposes, but as soon as we get into Die sphere of cellulose or paper yarns, we are dealing with something which can, not appeal to the public taste as a wearing article. Substitution in many directions is undoubtedly possible, and even necessary, at, a time like the present, and if is indeed questionable whether the world's wool-growing ajeus will be able to pgbduce enough wool to satisfy all requirements. There appears to be a tremendous scope for .wool-growing, and the writer' is certain that whatever developments may take place in the use of wool substitutes, the genuine article will always play the most prominent part. Oii'the ,12th inst. an apnraisement sale or wool was held in London. When the next distribution to Government manufacturers will be held' has not yet been definitely settled, but there ia some probability of one taking place in a week or two. ';