LONDON WOOL SALES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 280, 20 August 1921, Page 10

LONDON WOOL SALES

ACTIVE CONTINENTAL COMPETITION From Our Special Correspondent, London, June 16. Interest is now largely centred upon the course of wool values at the London auctions, these continuing to be well attended by both Home and Continental representatives. The number of buyers attending the sale room is now as largo as at any time previous to the war, but the personnel has almost completely changed, there being to-day a big crowd of young men, the majority of whom did not attend the sales before the war. The older buyers seem to be conspicuous by their absence, and those who are still attending are accompanied by younger men whom they appear to be training for the work. The number of buyers from tho Coutincut is indicative of what may be expected in the future. Both France and Germany are fully represented, and it is evident that buyers from the latter country arc concentrating their operations upon the wool offered in Coleman Street, thereby getting ready for sending buyers to Australia next season. The Germans appear to be acting in a most judicious manner, feeling the pulse of the trade, and endeavouring to become accustomed to British conditions now that the war is over. One of tho largest buying brokers remarked a few days ago that he thought 89 per cent, of tho .offerings were being purchased on Continental account, and I hat 60 per cent, were being taken by Germany alone. This estimate of the quantity of wool taken by Germany is perhaps somewhat on the high side, but all the same Continental competition is almost entirely responsible for the advance which bus taken place, in values, and if reports are true Germany, particularly, may be expected to be a large buyer of tho raw material in the future. Tasmanian Merinos. Quite a feature of the offerings this series is the wool from Tasmania, lhe quality is quite up -to the pre-war standard, which has resulted in excellent compfti’tion being forthcoming. H.R/Logan sold up to 23d. lor the greasy merino combing, broken ISJd, pieces LJd., bellies 15)d., and lambs 6d. The quality of this wool was good 70’s, whilst it was sound and of good length lhe top line would give a clean yield ot about 18 per cent. HR/Hanleth made 25Jd. for the greasy combing, fleece 17Jd, pieces Hd bellies 151 d„ locks SJd., greasy comeback ICJd., and crossbred ISJd. ibis wool was somewhat lighter tn condition than the previous, mark, and sold exceedingly well. Both the Home and Continental trades were keen to acquire both these marks, competition being o the best. Dunedin was also a superior line, one lot of super combing 261 d„ other lots realising from 2od. to Sjd. with fleece 21d. This wool was, o surienor quality, showed a good KOotli of Staple, and was of good colour M lien scoured and combed it mil P* obab { produce a superior 70 s warp top. An other good brand was LA/D in heart. The ton line of grease combing roaue ,-u and a very significant thing hapi'td AA first combing A — i«-> and BB combing 25Jd. Some buyers Xed to fancy the last lot in presence to the two -previous lots the writer considered thewool distineDy worse, both ™ and stvlo. This clip showed <os qnai tty and the clean yield was fromi to 50 per cent. The pieces made nnJ bellies the wjol being renresentative of the superior , me ” D ?. s grown in Tasmania. The superior me- - -reasios offered this series have all ’Xn that part of A-t™ asnq th Victorian and New South Male.- woois being ordinary types of raw ma ten - Queensland Wool*. e™." very good line* from Queensland being offered last Monday. 1 his was a b g line, for it comprised 665 Ules. It was of 70’s quality, and though of fa r length was rather tender. The top line of combing realised W„ b ™ ken 151 d., ffieces 14d., bellies 13d., 1 13d both tho Home and Continental trades sharing the lots. Condooroo was also offered, this being in the scoured etale- The top line of combing realised gd. ' other lots selling from 271 d to 961 d necks 29d„ pieces 2ujd-. bellies e 2 d and locks IGd' This wool was <> r Client colour fair staple but ]ust « little spoilt with seed Still it quite good enough to' command L n competition, fully current -rates being Xlteed. Mt. Abundance was in Gm reaiwx-o. a very nice wool, greasy state, beiu o a j , The aupercombmg made 19d. and 18d„ clothing; 18d„ f’^®. 17 %M 1 ° C Thi S is a pieces 16Jd„ and belhes 131 d. T! U S * good style clip, fairly clean, “nd ah' 5 Lils well. Kynuna “bowed up considerable advantage and sold road 1 . chiefly to Germany the top 11 ’ greasy combing making 18d., clothing W broken ltd., and pieces IOJd. A particularly good line o scoureds was fold under the name A/ d \ ’oaj combirig selling up to bellies -6c and locks 21 id. Hero was an exceedingly good colour and style that would ba d ’n Cl is t very significant that four bales of show wool from the Cape made 2,>id. the same afternoon, the scouring being perfectly done. This was the highest price of the day for scoured merinos. West Australian Wools. Throughout the series some very good representative clips hav" been offered from West Australia, Murchison grown wools dominating the offerings. Thun derella for tho grease combing sold up to 18d., and very good combing wool it was, clothing 14d., fleece 18id., broke Ifld pieces 14d., bellies llid., and lambs 12d’. The top line of grease combing Kadji Hadji made "H-. flee S® 1 ” lambs Hid., pieces Ud., bellies 13d and locks sd. These are two representative clips which'illustrote the range of values ruling for wool, giving a clean yie d of 50 to 52 per cent., and tll<, ,. Hon l e were very busy in competing for this Hass of row material. West Australian wool bring free of burr offers every attraction to Bradford topmakers and spinners, and these wools are ns popular to-day as fever. Crossbreds. Crossbreds throughout the series Have sold much better than usual, and are maintaining full opening pnees for all good, well-grown lots. One would have liked to see grease descriptions so l a little more freely, but the demand for 4,6’s and upwards shows a very important change compared with two months ago and tho advance continues to be "nvwhero from 5 to 10 per cent. One selling broker towards the end of last week said that slipeel crossbreds were ’ll ner cent, above March, but certainly. Hie bulk of sfipes are fetching 3d. pel lb more than the. lowest point and generally spanking tho demand could not he heifer Taking all things info considerntion. crossbreds seem to have turned over a now leaf, and home, French, and German buyers are taking these von freely Ono of the most pleasing teafurcs ’is lhe good genejal competition, „nd instead of a "slack set-up sale with half (he offerings withdrawn, at lenst 9a ner cent, of the wools catalogued arc llmlin- Iwvers. A. little irregularity semis to have developed in short, low n-id btirrv crossbreds, which nre bound to meet with nn irregular demand unless trndc materially revives. The Wages Settlement. Vairlv sal isfactory progress is Wing made towards n sell loment of I ho qu?sfi vi of wages to be paid to oporai ives in t-io wool textile trade. The delilw-ati-ns have certainly been very protracted but amended proposals have been submitted to the operatives’ repre-

sentatives which are expected to bo ’Coepted. These proposals aro that the cost-of-living figure shall be fixed at 105 Instead of 90. no further change to be made until the cost of living falls to 95. The advantages gained by tha operatives as a result of the negotiations will he that adult male workers will gain about 3s. to 4s. per week compared with the scheme originally drawn up by the emidcyers. whilst a proportional advantage will bo secured by female and junior operatives. If the wages question is settled and coal supplies begin to come forward, there is quito a reasonable prospect of increasing employment, though at tho present time there is not sufficient work to keep all machinery running full time.