YORKSHIRE LETTER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 286, 29 August 1919, Page 10

YORKSHIRE LETTER

LESS BUSINESS DOING IN TOPS (From Our Special Correspondent.) Bradford, July 3. Though nothing important has happened internally affecting wool toxtilo circles, due recognition must be givou in this nrticlo to the fact that the pence terms have beon signed. Many members of the industry-it may be said practically, all—have been looking forward with genuine interest towards the announcement being made that another definite etcp lias been taken towards tho establishment of pence; now that the terms have been signed we know for a certainty that the war has at last entered upon its really final stage, and that when the conditions attached havo brought them fully into operation, the wool toxtilo trade, along with all other industries, may settle down with greater contentment to carry on both their internal and external business transactions. It is obvious that one reason why so much interest attaches itself to the siguing of the peace is that it is regarded as the- forerunner of the development of a large export trade. Whilst the war has been in progress a remarkable tendency has developed in fashion, and today a. very large part of the demand for wool textiles is running on the finer qualities, that is, cloths and other""fabrics made from merino or fine crossbred wool. Comparatively speaking, crossbreds have been left out in the cold, though more recently a greater interest has beon taken in them, particularly medium qualities, and no doubt more business has beon done in these than is generally known. The pi>,rt' which Germany will bo allowed to play in taking supplies of textiles from this country is 6till a matter of conjecture. The fact that .she very largely played the part ■of a clearing house for other countries before the war, and Hint through her large weights of low-quality yarns weri) transmitted, seems to suggest that it will be necessary to give back to her the position'she occupied in that respect. The large- weight of raw material coming into this country also points towards sonic of.tha wool being allocated to Germany. Thero is'every prospect of supplies being quite large enough to more than satisfy all the manufacturing needs of this country, and after those have been supplied it is only to be expected that the surplus, consisting of low and inferior qualities of wool, will be allowed to go first to our Allies and then to Germany to assist in providing the necessary raw materials and frork for the toxtilo operatives of that country. That our own Allies should receive preference is no more than -just, and an indication of the policy which will be pursued has already been given in the quantities of wool which are being allowed to go to France and Belgium out of- the current sales.

The London Sales. These are proceeding on lines very similar to those recorded last woelc. It is evident that the extreme keenness to bay .has disappeared, and the anticipa-. tiona of those, who forecasted ■ thut before July had expired wool would bo selling oil a more reasonable basis bid fair.to be fully justified. There is no doubt that for the best combing greasy wools excellent prices are forthcoming, but for anything which is not particularly attractive to spinners the tendency is decidedly more reasonable. Topninkers who hnve been in London and havo watched the course of the sales say that they are not prepared to take the lead given to them by tho sale room. They adhere strongly to their belief that the prices bciiig paid for the raw matorial are not justified, and trey are doing what they can to prevent the inflation being continued. They are iuko severely handicapped by difficulties ron-, nected with transit, and if they cannot get the vrool Homo they argue diiile rightly that it k little use buying it. A large proportion of the are still of the crossbred type! Ove. , J"01l bales of New .Zealand wool was offeivl last Monday, consisting largely of gveas. ies. A considerable quantity of Aim tralian greasy crossbred was also Odered, and the'prices for these were somv-, what helped by the fact that Contineii tal buyers competed, thereby forcing the ha'ntls of Home trade representutives. Greasy crossbred pieces and bellies have also spld fairly readily. Tiio selection of merinos line been small, ami a largo pronortion has been suitable only for the French trade. The various lots-of these vera practically all taken on French account, prices ruling vrnctically on a level with the recent rates. Tho competition for good scoured Australian combing has been excellent, French buyers making their presence felt in these also. The prices paid ranged from 61(1. to 77d. Faulty senureds suitable for carbonising have shown little alteration in values, duo again to the fact that large weights have been taken for France. On the whole, the lone- of 'the room has been good, but as already said, it has been noticeable that the 'sensational nriees which have appeared, to make fTie buying power of the trade limitless, have not boon paid.

- Effect of Higher Wages. An example of how increased vagee reflect upon the wool textile tr~.de has recently been afforded by what has happened in connection witli a recent nil liijj of the Industrial Council thnt iugiier rates of pay should bo granted to comu ers, operatives, and warehousemen. Iho new scale will be operative from the week ending May 5, and will apply to the wages of merchants and topnuvers ■warehousemen, as well us to the wool combers' warehousemen. Tho rate of pay now being AT for a 48-honrs week. Ului point has bi'en raised by tppmakers tiint the increase in the combing tarill was forced upon thorn without «dei|...ite warning, but the reply of the wool combers has been to the effect that us i!u\y themselves did not receive much v,-«rn-iiiL' respecting the increased wages decided upon by the Industrial Counc l, they saw no alternative but to I and forward the increased cost in much 4ie same way as they had received it. llw opinions held by topmnkers respecting the treatment of tho new charges do not appear to be C|uito unanimous. Homo advocating that the time may Lome when, so to speak, they may be able *o (ret their own back in the form of a 1 eduction in the combing tariff brought about by conditions which will, of c urae, be quite the opposite from those now prevailing. There is, of course, sn dement of hardship in tppimikors being compelled to pay the. higher ra es possibly on contracts for winch allowinco for' higher combing charges hns been made but the whole circumstance 'hows how, when wages are forced up, tnero has to-be some compensation somewhere. If topiusikere were not fairly well fiuisfiod with the niacins they are able to make, on the present price of tops, the opposition would probably be much more active than it has been, aw as already saui, there is a feeling Uuit what 'is now beins partly lost may be ultimately recovered. The Standard Clothing Scheme.

Another meeting of the committee appointed to deal wilii the standard cloWiiii" schemo lias beer. held. It is obvious from the fact that it has been necessary to consider tho revival of this scheme that ail is not well with tho trade. It tha usual competitive forces had been working, in a normal manner, the price of clothiug would not have been so high to-day as to make it necessary to consider the institution of means for bringing about a better state of affairs. Jhe Labour Tarty cannot be blamed for their strong opposition to anything likely to contribute to an inflation of the cost of clothing, or which is likely to keep it a= high as it is to-day. It is beyond question that it oujht to be possible to place goods on the market at more reasonable prices mid at the same tame for those engaged in their to eecure satisfactory profits. The sinister tendency which is only too much in evidence is tlmt tho Labour Party are hankering after the nationalisation ot tho wool trade. If this wore to come about a severe blow ivoukl be struck at the industry. It may be'imssiMo by exorcising great care, and by enlisting the cooperation of the distributing end of the trade to use the standard cloth scheme (o carry Bin trade through to Hie lime vhen the laws of supply and demand shouM operate more naturally than they do to-day. It. is impossible, however, to vid oneself of tho impression that tho onlV way to stabilise values and to prevent tho publio being fleeced is to put more strenuous endeavours into the work I of production,