YORKSHIRE LETTER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 86, 6 January 1919, Page 8

YORKSHIRE LETTER

THE WOOL COUNCIL PRACTICAL MEASURES TO BE ADVOCATED (JProm Our Special Correspondent.) Bradford, November 7, 1918. Since writing last another meeting has beon held in London to tnke definite stops to form a "Wool Council, and more details are now available regarding the future of the wool textile industry. One cannot say all that one would like, and although "some strong things have been said regarding the object of the council, time alone will decide whether it deserves tho blessing of tho trade or otherwise. There may be a few of the officials-of the Department who want to see a continuance of State control tbe war, in fact the nationalisation ol the entire industry has even been mentioned. but such ia not worth a moment, s consideration. We have to fnce the fact that the war is not yet finished, control is inevitable fo>- another luelve month".• end the general imnression nrevails that a cerlaiu amount of control ean lie continued along with, and ]ve<*Bs toward" the gradual dtsnvautling of the whole Tf the wesent restrictions can bo removed, and liicrensinc sniolies secured, it will be a real (jeorl thing, and it is intended to deal with nftc-wnr rroMems thrnuKh the ngencv «f the Wool rouucil. Stens hnye lieen fiken during th« past weelc with this obieet in view. We hope the hitrh official? of the' Denartmenf. pre animated bv' the biflmpt motives, and believe tliey nVe. All' the heads of tho vayious fions have repeatedly declared in public that Stale control must begin tojro as soon as neace is declared, only it would b" suicidal to throw markets open and allow suoniies to be taken V all 6omers. when hostilities cease. Such a nroceediii" would lje greatly to th° miurv of the textile indudrv- of Great Britain and her Alii oo , and these, have a right for first consideration when the much-needed sunnlies become available. The way has produced Mich disor?nnisatinn bv liinnoioliFing freight tbnt it, will take months for things -to got back inti nnvthing like decent order, and unt.il ndeouate supplieF are puarnnfceod for tl)p Uril'isl* nnd nWed trades it'will be for a reasonable measure of control to remain in force. Constitution of Wool Council, 'As already indie,a ted an important meeting was held last week in London to form the Wool Council on broad democratic lines. A considers tion of the particular ls given below wiU readers that the Wool Council have srent onnortunities, and we believe thev will, advise, on the very best lines 'possible:— The conference unanimously recommended that, the Wool Council should include 11 trade members— twenty-three. Yeiircstntiii" employers and eighteen cmtilovees. It was, tliereforo. agreed that tbn' members should be elected by the following bodies:— t Board of Control (11 employers and 11 emnlovees) British Wool Federation 4 Associated London. .Selling *\ool Brokers •••• J Coloninl Wool Jlerc'iants Association i Wool Combing Kmployers'Ji'ederatioii 1' Worsted Spinners' Federation 1 Woollen and Worsted Trades' Federation .(flannel manufacturer) 1 Wool Textile Association (one export varn and, top merchant, one export. nud home piece merchant, ami one clothier) ; •. •••• 3 National Association of Unions in the Textile Trade •••• [j United Garment Workers' Union jThe following clauses defining th« functions of the council were accepted by thoconference:— (a) To advise as lo the needs of th" indu°trv with regard to raw mnterifu durin-r'the ti'niAitiou period. (b) To prepare plans which, wul facilitate the turnover from war to peace eondilions. * , ■ , (cl To sp"ak on belmK of the industrv in the matters on which, the proposed stnnding council on post-war priority raa.v ivish lo conjailf. with W) To act as ;m advisor' body to the War -Office on matters relating to the and Kale of raw wool and tops, ond other matters connected with wool control which are not included in tho terms of reference of ihe Board of Control of the woollen and worsted industry. fp) To deal with any other matters which mav- bo referred to' the council by the War .'Office, tho'. Board of Trade, the iUinistry of Reconstruction, tho Hoard of Control or any recognised trade or labour association connected with industry. Work Bofore the Council. The various associations cf the trade have met in Bradford this week to elect their representatives, the British Wool Federation nominating Mr. Arthur Jllll, Sir William Mr. IT. Norman Eae, and Mr. Harry Dawson. The Wool Textile Association have appointed Colonel G. Holfman (representing tho exporters of tops and yarns). 3ir. T. A. Corry (oxporfc am! home trade in fully manufactured goods), and Mr. ltobert H. Glen field (clothing manufacturers). Toe West Biding Spinners' Federation have to appoint four, and it can bo taken for granted that the representatives of this body on tho Board of Control with the present chairman, Mr.- Mitchell, Will also bo the four representatives on the Wool Council. The render will see that progressive men are to represent the trade, and the strongest point of all is that they go ns a united body. Everyone is pledged to serve the trade as a whole, the motto being "each for all, and all for each," With the Military Service Act out of the way at the conclusion of peace, there is nothing to prevent a real aggressive programme being inaugurated, and' we believe' that a policy will bo formed which will be to the liking pi all members of tlie trado in Great Britain and allied countries from woolgrower to manufacturer.. We are able to say on the very best authority that the Wool Council will pursue ii. different policy to that adopted during the past three years. AVe understand that all statistics relating to supplies, that is arrivals, wool at sea, together with stocks in Australasia and in Great Britain, are likely to be published, tho trade being put in full possession of all the tacts .regarding supplies and consumption. This has been a serious deficiency since the London sales closed, and the publication of statistics was forbidden. Great significance will attach to pre-war methods being reinstated on this head.-because the future,of prices will largely depend upon supplies. Many are hoping that the statistics of the trade which have not been published siiico the end of 1910 will be forthcoming. otherwise there is bound to bo an irreparable gau created in future years when one looks back to see what was done during the two years of war which followed the ,closing of the London sales. Other statistics regarding, arrivals, stocks, as well as consumption should bo available. London Salos to be Resumed. Another important piece of work which tho Wool Council will havo to; tackle will be the urging of the reopening of the London sales, and every effort will be mad© with that object in view. These, aro indispensable. Everyono recognises that tho present method of .distribution may havo been the right thing during the war, but when supplies become fairly decent there is notliing • to prevent Colemnn Struct opening its doors, and arrivals being distributed, either at iixed prices under permit, or else throwing the markets open to,tho competition of Great Britain and her Allies. We hardly think that at the beginning this would bo a, wise thing to do, but this should be possible when large supplies liecome available, although the destination ofwool is bound to bo controlled.