YORKSHIRE LETTER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 65, 11 December 1918, Page 8

YORKSHIRE LETTER

No rafional man can be found who will bo bold enough to declare that the continuance of the present system, of State control has'been justified by results. The Government had no alternative but to purchaso the British and colonial clips, and by, so doing regulate values. Had this not been <lono we should have seen prices probably double what the.v are io-day. The one weakness in connection with State control has been the free civil market enjoyed by spinners and manufacturers, for undoubtedly unreasonable profits have been made. When-2-48's worsted yarns spun out of a 7O's top have been sold at 13s. Gel. per j lb., and Hint top is being handed out by the Department at. 6s. 7d. to 63. Sd. per I lb., the margin is altogether too big. If some measure of control could havo been evolved regulating values iu the- civil (riule, for yarns and pieces, the whole I country would have benefited, but, after all, the alpha and omega of the schema has been to provide our soldiers and sailors with an adequate supply of fabrics, and to produce these at a reasonable, cost. This undoubtedly has done, and that being so the present ex-" istence of the measure is justified. It lias already been announced that the British Government has purchased the Australian and New Zealand clips for twelve months after tho war, which ykces the Government in the position of being the biggest wool merchant in the world. Probably it will purchaso the next. British clip, in order to regulate both prices and distribution. lam positive the feeling is unanimous that some measure of control should obtain for at least six to twelve months after peace is declared, it bein? imperative that the distribution to outside markets should be regulated. However much Germany may be in need of the raw material, it is absolutely certain- that she will not be allowed to'help herself'to the colonial clips for a long lime to come. Therefore the State, is bound to keep a controlling hand upon supplies for some months after the war. Providing that Oreat Britain and her Allies have freo access to raw materials there will bo Httio room for complaint. Shouiii London Sales be Reopened? ■ To the-above question a unanimous answer would be forthcoming if the trade was canvassed, and the same can bo said for colonial auctions. The writer is oble to say that during the past three months the high officials of tho Department have had before them a scheme for the reopening of the London sales, and the employment of importers', merchants', and topmakers' capital, for •h'nancintj'-thc wool trade. It has been felt that, if this capital could have beon employed and profits fixed at 5 per cent., it-would have been a real help to tho Treasury, but so.far the scheme has not 'materialised. Evidence was given privately by at least two lending members of the wool trade as to the working of tho present scheme of State control, ana , some very hard things have been stated. Still, conditions of war such as have been experienced were bound to create difficulties, and with the cessation of hostilities some means ran be found for rasing the burdens of the trade and giving to all a certain measure of freedom that will prove very acceptablo in the transition from war to peace. ,1 Tho writer is heartily in sympathy with the reopening of the London sales as soon as possible, and letting the entire industry operate if need he under a license eystem. This may prove objectionable, but it will be put up with for some month; until supplies become sufficient to meet all the v.ants of the industry. Let those buy who want to do so for home usn and export to our Allies. Continental neutral countries are exceedingly ban! of all descriptions of clothing, and they will want a certain proportion of wool as quickly as possible. There are firms situated in the Netherlands and Scandinavia who were regular operators in-London. They cannot expect to buy without let or.hindrance, but returns could be obtained

RECONSTRUCTION POLICY BEING FORMULATED (From Ouv Special Correspondent.) Bradford, October 1". With the, turn of events in connection with the war, and the rapid move towards pence, nil kinds of ideas are in the air regnrding the position of the textile industry when the war finishes. It is proposed to form a wool council in order io deviso the best means of dealing with tho raw material through the transition from pence to normal conditions. A conference, will ho held on October 21, in liondon. '.''he various textile organisations throughout the country have been asked to nominate .two or three representatives, and Bradford has made a move. Soma of the most level-headed members of the wool trade have been appointed. A serious charge has. been made regarding some of the leaders of the industry attempting to do a good deal of the shuffling of the cards for their own selfish interests, but the members of tho trade chosen are too honest to be guilty of such a practice, and it is simply a case of irresponsible parties wanting to shout before there is anything to complain about. Tho wool council will .formed in conjunction with the Ministry of Reconstruction, which is a very wise move. I understand that the whole question of the wool textile industry is to be considered, and a real effort is to be made to put the interest of the industry in tho hands of the best brains of the trade. A'o doubt a certain official clement will remain, but it is generally conceded that the entire business of. reconstruction can be best left to be worked by those who knowthe trade and whose past experience Qualifies them for dictating a policy. British and Colonial Clips.

showing their average yearly purchases, say, during 1912 and 1913, and for a start 15 to 25 per cent, of their purchases could he allowed, this to be spread, , say, over fiix to twelve months. Such a regulation would be open'for revision as circumstances dictated, bnt., so long as the trade has a chance of doing sonicthing, it will put up with much inconvenience. .It would not be wise to allow the trade to buy at fixed prices and to refell at what it liked. A guarantee should lie forthcoming that the wool would bo sold at a limited profit, 6ay, of S per cent., during the transition period, but in any case let the market become more open than it is at present for raw materials, and bring home wool froiii our colonies with all possible speed. Wool Indispensable, One cannot help coming to the conclusion that the fieece of the sheep is still <m article of commerce without which the world could not get. on very long. A soldier home on furlough remarked last week that nil the straps of the German troops were now made from paper, and the tops of.their boots were also composed of hard pressed paper. It would be indeed interesting to know all the shifts to which Germany has been put. during the past two years, and also to know flie real state of the people in regard to tho supply of clothing. Months ago it was stated that men were wearing paper trousers, and the Indies were dressed in fabrics largely made from paper, nettle fibre, and other such -poor substitutes. Here in Great Britain there lias been enough clothing and to snare for everybody. A manufacturer from Sweden remarked to the ■writer » fortnight ago that this country was a perfect paradise compared to his, there being food and clothing, and enough of everything for paying for. .Still, the assurance of Sir Arthur' Goldfinch that the consumption of wool for the nex' raMo"insr period from December 1 to Xforeh 31 will be maintained on military account; at. the prwent rate (which In' the way larger than since the outbreak of war), the wool must be in the country, otherwise such ii '.-InteniPtit v«uld not. have l.oen made. It i?> % true thnt stocks arc lower than we have; been accustomed to see, but the writer is satisfied that the raw material will be bronijM home in sufficient quantity to la-op the present machinery running in one way or another. Tn our colonics there are huge stock.' of wool awaiting shipment, and British and Allied countries have tho

satisfaction of knowing that when the war terminates ;ind shipping is restored to that of more normal times, wool cargoes will be rushed Homo with all the -.peed possible. Great Britain rejoices in ii prospacr. ai prosprnty which 1 lip writer ventures to say will bo equal to that of the last four years of unparalleled taoiu.