YORKSHIRE LETTER

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 288, 31 August 1921, Page 8

YORKSHIRE LETTER

A MINISTER OF WOOL From Our Special Correspondent. London, July 14. Last week a report was published of a scheme propounded by a few Labour leaders for the nationalisation of the wool textile industry. It is really amazing how these schemes are hatched, and with what audacity they are brought forward. One can only assume that the promoters regard the British public generally and tho members of the woo! manufacturing industry in particular as a most gullible typo of humanity. There are various directions in which these brilliant Labour leaders might better employ their talent. Certainly it is high time they did something which is more likely to help to build up tho industry of the world. One important fact seems to have been, forgotten, which is that it is impossible to nationalise an industry like the wool textile trade without taking control of all the wool grown throughout the entire world. The most level-headed members of the Labour Party itself frankly acknowledge that the scheme is a paper scheme only; in other words, it could nor be successfully carried out in the realm of practical business. It is fairly obvious to those who can read between tho lines that the scheme has been brought forward by a few Labour extremists who had soft jobs under the recent Government control, and as they are not now -eceiving £5OO pet year as arbiters of .the destiny of the wool trade, they are anxious to entrench themselves in some new position which will be quite as lucrative for themselves as their former one. If these men of enterprise wish to find scope for their ability and ideas, tho best thing they can do is to obtain possession of half a dozen mills in the (Vest Riding, and give to tho industry a practical demonstration of the principles for which they profess to stand. These businepsas should he very attractive, for they were most successfully conducted before and evqn during the war, and all they have to do-is to provide the capital in order to "make the mare to go.” English Wools.

The top side of forty English wool fairs have been held so far this season, and this week sees the opening of the Down sales proper. A very good sale took place at Cirencester, the district around which centre can be called-the home of’ the Southdown and similar ■quality wools. The top price realised for the best washed Southdowns was 16dthe average being 15d. Good Hampshire Downs averaged 13ld. to J4£d-. Oxford Downs' lid. to Hid., and washed crossbreds 6d. to 6Jd. One outstanding feature has been in evidence all through the selling season, namely, that demand has been, best sustained for 1 :wools from 5056’s quality. Even good halfbreds (4648’s) have been cheap compared with good Downs. Of course, there .are about a dozen firms, principally hosiery spinners and manufacturers, who specialise in‘the handling of good Downs. It significant to see who are tho firms chiefly operating at these Down fairs. They include firms from Ireland, Scotland, and ’the big hosiery spinning firms of Bradford, Halifax, and Leicester. Competition lias not been keen, but there has been a somewhat better spirit shown among the buyers, the -attitude of one and all being to let the wools he as evenly distributed as possible. This is ns it shold be-, There are many growers who have refused to sell at current values, particularly among Midland and North of England growers, prices to theni being ridiculously low. There, has l>een far more readiness to meet the 1 , market among South of England growers, and we think users are doing the right thing to acquire Down wools- The knitting craze, is by nol means over and next winter will see many ladies as busy as ever knitting jumpers and sports coats. Germany Buying Demi Lustre Yarns. Closely allied with the above is the incoming of f>re-war German customers for Bradford spun 1-30’s demi lustre yarns, and also twofolds. A huge trade was done jn pre-war times in super and also demi lustre yarns, these beijig very largely used for the production of cheap serges and similar low crossbred fabrics. Germany sold these in very big weights throughout the Balkan States and Russia, and there is evidence of returning prosperity. This is all in of Lincoln wethers and Urish and Kent wools, and one expects to see these move off in larger volume during the next twelve, than during the past twelve, months. Of course, it is taking a little time for all firms to .reorganise their selling departments. Russia is moving slowly. Everybody appears to be sick of turmoil and upsetment, and with Europe generally turning its face towards peace, everybody 'feels that the day is not far distant when trade must inevitably revive- and business get back to something Tike norma].