YORKSHIRE LETTER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 54, 27 November 1917, Page 8

YORKSHIRE LETTER

BETTER PRINCIPLES OF CONTROL (From Our Spccial Correspondent.) Bradford, September 20. A calmer feeling; obtains throughout tho wool trade, and the outlook is brighter. This is entirely duo to an official statement published during tho week, the roEult of a round-table conferonco, referred (o in our last letter. It was then proceeding, and although first impressions showed that tho Departmental officials had not conceded a good deal, tho trade has got moro than appears on tho Burface. Tho result is that a decidedly moro confident feoling is expressed over the future. Let no reader for a momeut supposo that tho Department has granted all that was asked for. That could not bo expected. One must realise that at the foundation of things is tho faot that both tho British and colonial clips havo been bought by publio money, for which Parliament is responsible, and therefore tho Government of the country mijst retain a firm hand upon tho whole thing. At the samo time the trade is to havo for t.ho first time direct representation, and in the Board of Control which has been sot up very extensive powers will be granted whereby tho entire industry will come under the survey of practical business men, and at last some senslblo improvement, can be eipccted in tho whole matter of State control. Of course, the work of tho board has yet to begin, the first meeting is to take place towards the end of this week, and In a month's timo it will bo shown whether any radical reforms aro brought about. However, hopes aro entertained of some sensible improvements being effected, and as far as one can eco thero is a likelihood of more consideration being shown to traders than they hare hitherto enjoyed. • . Points Gained. It will be as well if we point out some of the conditions secured to the trado as a result of .tho receut agitation. First and foremost, it mu6t bo remembered that the West Biding spinners have all the time been in tho van, leading the forces of the trado, and great credit is due to Mr. J. W, Bulmer for being tho pioneer in the movement. Headers will bo better able to grasp the various points which have been won if we give the following summary:— 1. A true knowledge of tho position of wool stocks, estimated supplies, consumption, etc.

2. An increaso of working hours from 45 to 50 per week, with the right of review placed in tho hands of tho proposed Board of Control. , 3. The spinners' demand was for a Board of Control. Tho Government have granted this Board of Control, which shall commence operations at that point where raw materials are no longer under Government ownership. The Government state that powers granted to the Board of Control are very wide. They will admit of the methods of control approved by tho Central Wool Advisory Committee being continued or still further tightened, and they will equally admit of these measures being relaxed to the point of restoring complete freedom of trade in privately- | owned wool. 4. At the conference, the ispinners' representatives established the principle that the handling of raw wool up to and including the making of tops should be placed under the control of tho trade committee. This was agreed to. It is to consist of four woolmen already acting in a voluntary capacity in the Department, with the addition of two new men of the trade and elected by the trade. 5 Tho first proposal was that the spinners should have one representative to six manufacturers' representatives. There are now to be three representatives of tho spinners. 6. Tho spinners have obtained tho right to scrutinise all statistics as to stocks, estimated supplies, Government requirements, and the wool position generally. 7. They have also established the right for the Board of Control to nominate two or three delegates to represent the Board of Control on the Confidential Wool Committee, 8. The spinners have also established home rule for themselves and manufacturers. 9. Any point of difference arising between tho two sections of the trade—spinners and manufacturers—shall be submitted to arbitration, the board consisting of three spinners, three manufacturers, and tho Director of Supplies to act as chairman. 10. The priority scheme and all other schemes are left to the ■ board to review, amend, or abolish. , 11 - It is also - established that six out of the eight Government officials of tho Board of Control shall bo trade experts already acting in a voluntary capacity in the Department. 12. The Director of Textile Production is the chairman of the Board of Control, but it has been agreed that he shall not have a casting vote. The point was put that if the spinners agreed to the principle that the Board of Control should not be responsible for dealing with raw wools and tops seeing that the running of spinners' and manufacturers machinery was entirely dependent on the raw wool and tops being handled in a proper -and expert manner, it was only fair that such handling and dealing with wool and tops should bo dono by tho committee in whom the spinners had confidence. This committee is to be set up and will have full knowledge of all the Government operations in every Qnd all available information will i bo placed before this committee, and as it is intended to call in from time to time three representatives from tho Board of Control it naturally follows that tho whola trade will by these means bo kept fullv cognisant of all happenings so far as the raw materials necessary for the running of the machinery of the trade are con- I cerned. •

We are also in a position to stato that a very different attitude is now shown by the professional' official element. All J,na pre . s , ent A ?™ory Committee will come under the review of the board, which will think fit™ 61 - t0 ameDi 0r abolish 08 »><>y .}}. is U P to the representatives of the H, °° t. I Board of Control and tho Confidential Wool Committee to do their duty fearlessly, and to suffer no farther encroachment on the liberties of tho trade unless the need for Bame is proved. Distribution of Supples,. It will be seen from tho above that various committees aro to be constitute Hnrl nf"«, e t0 de i al 8 " eoiall y with that sec' nnrf I a wool teitilo Industry and re?rnl Wlfo ( -n gS i. to , tho BoaTd of Control. What will bo known as the Eaw Materials Sub-Advisory Committee renresonting really tho clothing section of the wool trade haa been formed and a Let? ing held. ■ This committee represents the short wool trade, that is, rlw material comprising clothing, pieces, bellfes and t?nna' i? 01 ' Be °tion, waste and burr sections, carbomaers, blenders and scourera ?n w °mu" s merc hants and dealers gener' ft Lt,! ° 1 which are now beinr WIIM h *i. eluding a largo increase in iho uso of khaki scrgo mungo. of