ENGLISH WOOL TRADE
MACHINERY OUTPUT STILL INADEQUATE
(From Our Special Correspondent.) Bradford, September 1. A sale of Australian, New Zealand, and Falkland Islands wool was held at Liv erpcol last Thursday American and French buyers Here again well to th'; fore, competition being such as to lilt sunorior' merinos 5 to 10 per cent, above rates established in London at tlie 6ales recently closed. The total quantky offered was about H.G7O bai«i, the details being as follow:—.New South Wales, ■1378 bales; Victorian, 1502 bales; 'Tasmaniau. 14*0 bales; South Australian, 3869 bales; New Zealand, «1G bales; Falkland Islands, HID bales. The South Australian ana Tnsmanian wools included some very good combing lots. Indeed, the latter afforded quite a treat lor buyers interested in merino qualities. A large part of it was fully 80's and in excellent condition. Greasy clips of the duality named, and of about 50 per cent, clean yield, mado 57d. to G2d., according to condition and yield, the higher price being forthcoming for 3 to il incji warp wools Clothing wools realised 5Hd. to Slid. Greasy crossbred combing clips made from 29d. to 30d. The well-known New Zealand slipc halfbred lambs of tho Gear mark made 45d The general position of crossbretls showed little change compared with London, tho same statement applying to avernjis merinos. France showed special interest in merinos of supei-fino quality. The selection of scoured merinos was ve..good, all the -Australian States being represented. The attendance of buyers was large, mid as an indication of confidence in the future of tho raw material, the sale was very satisfactory.
Top Values Very Firm, Tho machinery position in this centra is practically the same o» last week. Tho strong tendency of prices for morino wools, o,s indicated at the Liverpool sal'.e on Thursday, indicates the continuance of the. present level for merino combings, and it is still being found that spot lots aro practically unobtainable The inquiry on forward account continues, but is far beyond the capacity of tho trade to cope with it, and business in Capo tops is having to be turned down without the slightest hesitancy, there being no prospect of giving the required delivery. The greatest concern of topmakers is to get round their comb ings in order to complete the contracts now running. Tho price for quick delivery of botanies is scarcely quotable, almost any figure being paid for what aro obtainable. All crossbred qualities of tops are firm. Spinners are still finding difficulty in getting adequate supplies of cOal, and this, along with the scarcity of tops, particularly tine qualities, accounts for a considerable proportion of standing spindles." Inquiries are still forthcoming on 'both home and export account, and though home trade spinners may be found who aro angling tor cheaper tops, there is no prospect of v them being able to buy except on a full parity with today's rates. Advanced prices are being offered by merchants for certain classes of fine English wool, but so far without result. Export licenses for wool are only forth, coming slowly, and this is causing a good weight of business to be held up. Greater interest was shown in the sale of carbonised, English fleece and skin and other wools held in Bradford on Friday, particularly the larger lots. An advanced scale of earbonie'ng charges has come into forco this week, tho revision being necessary in eonsequenco of thu continued incraose in working costs.
Assisting Export Trade. A most significant announcement has been made with regard to tho scope to be allowed to purchasers at the London wool auctions. Tho first concessions granted sinco the signing of peace was the admittance of Allied and neutral competition. America and France have responded to the occasion exceedingly well, showing that they wero ready to buy colonial wool as soon as the chaiico was afforded. It is now known that tho Government has decided that from September 1 onwards auctions of wool will be free from all restrictions on cither quantity or quality, this step being taken in view of increased stocks in the United Kingdom, and indications of sufficient wool to cover all local machinery requirements. Licenses will still be necessary, and tho privilege to export to any country will be extended to buyers who operated before August 11, on condition that full particulars of quantities, catalogue number, and date of purchase are given. It is clenrlv understood that Germany is included in the' concession and that licenses will be granted for that destination. Tho point may );o raised, however, as to Germany's ability to pay, and judging from the present rate of exchange, and the. position created thereby, as mentioned last week, special financial arrangements will have to be.made if business is to be successfully negotiated with Central Eurone. It is understood that the Board of Trade intends to open an office under management appointed by the 'board for furnishing sterling credits, in accordance with the scheme for assisting the exoortation of goods to certain disorganised parts of Europe, whicli was referred to by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on August 18. The credits will be based on bills drawn in this country by tho seller of the goods and accepted by the buyer, and will bo subject either—(a) To the deposit .with an approved bnnk in tho country of purchase of currency to an amount required by tho office; (b) to a guarantee of currency of a required amount by an approved bank ; (c) to arrangements for the handing over of produce of the buying country; or (d) to. the deposit of securities with the approved bank or the office under tho seh»me. Business will be taken only through banks and on thrireports of banks, and the aggregate amount i' rwil to be granted will not exceed .KG.000.000. The area and cln■*■<■■of erods to which the scheme relates will be settled from time to time by tlv Government, but credits will not be f" r nished either for the expert of raw :<■■■ feriai nr for tho <-j'le of etodes held by Government Departments.
Hipher Carbonising Charges. An illustration of the effect of higher waees and enhanced working costs i given in a new carbonising tariff which came into operation on the same date-' as the new combing tariff, September I. The revision is necessary in consequence of the continued increase in working costs. The new rate of charges for wool. Crti'd vistc. and burrs, the old tariff being adord to indicate the actu . ndvancc. is as follows:— M'ch. Sept. 3 1. d. d. Producing up to 15 per ceet.... 12 12{ Producing over 15 per cent, to il) per cent 10J 11} Producing over 20 per cent, to 25 ner cent Sj 9j Producing n v!>i' 25 per cent, to 30 nor cent S\ 85 Producing over ,'iu per cent, to 35 ner cent •■ 1\ 8J Producing over 35 per cent, to 40 per cent 7 7jj Producing over -10 per cent, to 45 i:er cent CJ 7J Producing over 15 per cent, to 50 per cent 61 6\ Producing over 50 per cent, to 55 ner cenl (I CS Producing over 55 per cent to (10 ner onl 5J 8J Producing m'c." (K) jwr cent, lo (!.'. per >.ei.l 6J Producing over 05 per cent, lo 70 per cent 5i 5£ Producing over 70 per cent, to 75 per cent 5 5| Producing over 73 per cenl. to SO per cenl -1J !ii Producing over 80 per cent, to 85 ner cent '. -IJ 5] Producing over 35 per cent, to 100 ner cent 4J 5} Where Unity Reigns. Amidst all tho evidence of unrest in the worsted section of the wool textile industry, it is refreshing to conic across individual cases where unanimity picvails between employer and employees. No doubt if the full tale were to bo told other similar instances could ho noted, but the one now in question ia the firm of Smith. Buhner and Co., worsted spinners. The head of that firm.
is Mr. J. W. Bulmcr, who played such nn active part in securing an adequate allocation of tops to spinncTs during tho heyday of State control. Ho also came forward in the hour of need with unanewerable statistics on tho great question of wool supplies. Last week Mr. and Mrs. Bulmcr were presented with tokens of respect bv the workpeople at Keighley Mills, Halifax, one of tho branches of the firm. It appears that Mr. Bulmer has given to his employees double wage 3 as a peace gift, but on the occasion of the employees' presentation it was pointed out that the gilts were not offered in return for what the employees had received, but as a token of good fellowship which it was hoped would continue. When Mr. Bulmcr commenced business at Keighley he had 2000 spindles, but tho the number at the various mills is now 42,000, and before tho expiration of another twelve months the firm expect to bo controlling about 00,000 spindles. He attributes this achievement largely to tho loyalty of his employees. His policy had been to give everyone a square deal. Ho became a full-timer himself when he was 10.J years old, and therefore knows all tho phases of mill life and can sympathise with the workers' difficulties. Mr. Buhner further stated that he wished to seo peoplo eager to become employed in the spinning industry, and not regard it as a last resort. Present wages could be maintained if everyono did his duty, it full production were given and all waste eliminated. He did not wish the spinning industry to get into the position of Hie combing industry at tho present time,
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Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 41, 12 November 1919, Page 3
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1,614ENGLISH WOOL TRADE Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 41, 12 November 1919, Page 3
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