THE WOOL OUTLOOK

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 22, 20 October 1917, Page 7

THE WOOL OUTLOOK

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER

GOVERNMENT STATISTICS , CRITICISED

(From- Our Special Correspondent.) Bradford, August 16. Tho week under review in the wool toxtile trade has ,beeu ono of, extraordinary moment, and possibly the most historical since war broke out. The- opposition to State control culminated i«st week-end with the publication of tho findings of tho Special Committee of Inquiry which was appointed at the famous meeting of spinners in Bradford Inst July J9, and the result of their investigation exceeds all expectations. It confirms once- again what we have always maintained, namely, ths incompetence of mere officials to deal with such an intricate business as the wool textile industry, and ono of the blackest pages in connection with the war will be that showing how the entire industry has been mismanaged by incompetent Government officials. Really speaking, no ono with any practical knowledge of tho trade has objected to the purchase of the colonial clips, tho cause for complaint being the administration of principles which, have not been a success, and which have caused endless irritation and grave concern. That really is the crux of tho whole question. Of course tho industry has muddled through in a fashion, but the revelations laid, bare to tho eyes of the entire world in tho famous document of figures published last weok-end show how utterly iiicompetent Government officials aro to handle figures appertaining to such a technical trade; as the wool industry. They may j be well qualified to handle figures of import and export, but when it conies to national stocktaking and ascertaining the measure of consumption they have shown incompetence which cannot be condoned with under any pretence whatever, especially when all woollen and worsted mills have been compelled to reduce the working week by ten hours. Basis of Calculation. It is a remarkable thing that in no feingle particular has the Special Committeo of Inquiry been able to accept the figures furnished the trade by Air. H. W., Forster, M.1 , ., Financial Secretary to tho War Office. Tho writer f«els very much disposed to sympathise with the heads of the various Departments, like Mr. Forstw, because ho could only furnish tho Central Wool Advisory Committoo and tho trado with -thosefigures which were given him by the Government officials. But that does not alter actual facts. From first to last Mr. Forstqr and thoso working in conjunction with him have bi'Mi wrongly informed as to tho actual Socks of raw materials in tho country, and to find them ignoring tho whole of British j'lid colonial sheepskins, including iiugo stocks of tops, hips, wastes, i;nd aiicn useful semi-manufaotui-cd materials shows utter ignorance and incompotonco on tho part of those responsible for conducting tho nation's business. . . Another important fact comes out in tho inquiry, namely, that there has been a total lack of uniformity in estimating "clean yield." In no fewer lliiui thron distinct "specific cases does llu> committee point out where this deficiivoy occurs. "It is important fo knoiv that whilst privately all imported wools aro taken by the Department at 561 por cent., w'hon Jlr. Forster made his statement to tho trade in Bradford he look 50.11 per cent, for imports, and -I!J.S:J por cent, for stock, including British. Tho l.'Opartmenl is either guilty of careiessness or ignorance in this matter. v\o aro reluctantly compelled to draw the conclusion that tho lowi yield basis vas taken in order to lessen the stook available in the report to the trade." Slioh searching language as the above is tho comment mado by the Special Committee of Inquiry, and'having-laid down that prinoiplo there is no wonder at ovidonco

accumulating which shows how the trado has been misled. British Wools Ignored. Not a single, sheep might exist in Great Britain, judging from the way the fleeced' of 28 million sheep'have been ignored by the officials of the Department. In the census taken on December 31, 191G, i.o account was taken of the British clip, which only begiin to bo marketed towards the end of August. In addition to stock •from April 1 to June 30, 1917, no British wool is allowed for, and for the' whole period covered by the'statement to the Advisory Committee, "not one ounce of British wool is mentioned." Such a palpable error as this cannot "bo condoned with.in the least. Throughout the statement of the Committee of Inquiry, the British clip has always been put down at 121 million lbs., and if reckoned at TS ]>er cent, clean yield, shows clearly enough the Talue of domestic ivool at a timo like the present. We need hardly point out that the British clip has played a noble part in providing the armies of Groat Britain and her Allies with some first-clas3 fabrics, and every practical man knows its value in estimating, stocks. In fact, to-day when supplies of New Zealand crossbreds are none too plentiful,- tho domestic product is found to be very useful. All tho English skin wool is being consumed by woolien manufacturers in providing woollen wefte for tartan and drab serges. As hosiery wools, there is nothing to boat tho product of our Down breeds and good halfbreds, and therefore the committee have rightly reckoned stocks of British wool, their action, of course, finding favour with the entire industry. Astounding Deficiencies. As a member of the committee points out, "Wool is the keystone of the whole structure; go wrong there and your building collapses." On tho question of wastage of wool some very stinging remarks are given by Mr. 11. Norman Eae. He says: "Wool has been used with a. prodigality that unlimited supplies alone would ! justify. Wool has not been put to its best economic nee; there has been considerable wastage, there still is wantage." Dealing with the future, ho i≤ equally outspoken, and after calling attention to tho requirements at 'the forthcoming days, there is then given a big quantity of figures which will test even the mental capacity of the average woolman familiar with analysing wool statistics. It is not our intention to-day toinflict many details upon the reader, but simply content ourselves with giving a summary showing the findings of a leading member- of the committee, compared with tho quantities of.wool funnelled by tho Department. In order to give additional strength to his figures relating to yields, Mr. If. Norman l?.ao submitted them to Messrs. Schwarizc, Buchanan, and Co., the highest recognised authority in the wool industry, and they accept them as practically correct." That being so, wo simply give a summary, showing "gains" compared with tho figures furnished by Hie" Department, and "it is significant that then; is not a single loss in tho whole list of figures. Statement A. A gain in clean wool of lil,(i9B,ii(lO!b. Statement B. A gain in clean wool of 55,882,9371 b. Statement C. Showing a gain of raw wool of 98,05500011). SliitciiU'ii! D. An increase- of clean wool of 103,100,00011). Slnlemwit K. Increase, 64,693,50011). Mr, Bae, in summing up his statement, makes (he following caustic remark: "The Department is guilty either of great carelessness or of wilful ignorance in this matter, or it selects yields most suited to arrive at the conclusions it desires." After such a verdict it makes one naturally ask what faith the trado can have in tho whole scheme of State control of the wool textile industry. No one- in the trade that wo know of questions the accuracy of the figures given; in fact, tho authorities in London have been completely beaten. The result is that already a Board of Control is promised to consist of seven officials of |

the Government, seven men to be ap- [ pointed by the trade, mostly mamifaetuvers, and coven Labour representatives. Tlio constitution of that Board of Control finds no favour with cnyone and therefore the Textile Association met last week-end and refused to accept it, demanding that they be entrusted with fnit executive powers, that half the Board of Control consist of men appointed by the trade, and that: they have the power to elect their own chairman. This is holiday week in Bradford, and next week the West Biding -Spinners' Federation will meet to consider the findings cf the Special Committee. It was they who first of all threw down the gauntlet, and rnless we are prently mistaken they will Bot rest satisfied until a place has ten found for Mr., H. Norman Eae and Mr. J. W. Buhner, who have been chiefly responsible- for drafting the whole report.