OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2322, 15 October 1908, Page 1

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

HULL AND THE WOOL TRADE A FEW ' FACTS FUR SHIPPERS. (From Our Special Correspondent.)

BRADFORD, August 2G,

The respective governments of Australia, particularly since the constitution of the Commonwealth, have consistently been endeavouring to open out now markets for their produce, and having regard to the keen t;oinpetition of foreign countries more nearly situated to the United Kingdom and to the growing expenses oi transport by way of. Loudon, the port to which their exports are principally sent—-and it may be said that the port of London Bill at present before Parliament will lend materially to in- ■ crease theso expenses—they havo of later years turned --eir attention to the more northerly ports as being nearer to the main industry centres of the country from which a demand.for thoir produce is likely, to proceed; and the visit of the Agents-General in October, 1905, was a direct outcome of this policy.

Mr T. A. Coghlan, the Agent-Geno-ral for Now South Wales, gave tlieir impressions of the advantages of the port for the conduct of trade with Australia and New Zealand in a speech, and I am informed that representations, in conformity with the views expressed in that speech, were subsequently made by each of the Agents-General to his own Government. .

Mr T. Price, the Premier of South Australia, went to Hull and spent two days there on March 31st and April Ist last, and I understand from subsequent conversation that lie entertains a very high opinion as to the suitability and advantages of the port and its equipment for the conduct of trade with Australia and New Zealand.

The waterways communicating with the Estuary of the Humber extend far into the country in a northerly, westerly, and southerly direction and flow past a largo number of industrial centres, and the low transport charges levied by the carriers on these waterways are reflected in the competing jailway rates, so that I estimate that Hull, which is perhaps the cheapest of the larger ports of' the Kingdom, serves aji area populated by something like' ten million persons by means of transport rates which are cheaper than or as cheap as those obtaining to and from the three larger competing ports of London. Liverpool (including Manchester) and the Bristol Channel ports.

Wool is by far the main export from Australia, New Zealand, the Capo, and; the River Plate to this country, and: appended is a statement showing the importations into and re-exports from the United Kingdom of •wool from all sources, that- from Australia and Now Zealand boing specifically shown.

The wool from Australia, Now Zealand, South Africa, anjl the River Plate imported into tlio United Kingdom may be divided into two classes (.1) That which is consigned, by shippers to London brokers and put in the sales at the latter port-. (2) That which is purchased by buyers from the United Kingdom regularly attending sales in Austra-, lia, New Zealand, the Cape, and Buenos Aires.

With reference to tlie first of these two classes it may bo said that the total wool imported into London in 190? was 486,481,7821b5. As much as 91,606,1331 b;. of this quantity came from the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Australia, and New Zealand. The London sales are attended by foreign, buyers, and about 40 per cent., or about 157,950,2581b5. of the wool brought there is re-exported, principally to German, Holland, Belgium, France, and, America. This leaves 256,925,3861b5. for consumption in the United Kingdom, and with the exception of a comparatively small amount which is sent to the west of England, tho whole of this wool is sent to the West Riding and Scotland. This latter wool is conveyed from London to 'the West Riding either direct by railway or by coasting vessel to Hull or Goole, and then by rail or inland navigation to the West Riding. The rail rate from London to Bradford 1 is 30s per ton. From Hull to Bradford it is 15s jier ton. The port charges in London for collection, laborage, wharfage, warehousing, ticketing and exhibiting for sale etc. are already heavy, and it is estimated that they are at least about 10s per ton in excess of those levied in respect of similar services and accommodation at Hull. The saving, therefore, in unnecessary transport charges which would be elfocled by importing tho wool’ bought on r' West Riding account and selling it in Hull instead of London would be about 25s per ton on, say, 110,000 tons per annum, or £137,500 per annum. The West Riding manufacturer has to face the increasing keen competition of his foreign rival, and the present excess transport charges on his wool from London, as compared with those from London to the Continent, must he a burden of a very serious character.

As regards the second point, this is bought by the West Riding buyers at the sales in. Australia, New Zealand, and Buenos Aires, and is sent through to the AVest Riding, either via Hull. Liverpool, of Manchester. Tho dock charges at and railway rate from Liverpool, as contrasted 1 with those at and from Hull, show about 7s to 8s per ton in favor of Hull; whilst- as regards. Manchester is may be. said that although the Ship Canal Company

arc uiaking concessions from ’their schedule charges to an extent which justifies the 1 belief that they are getting very little,, if any, profit in the working of the. business, it cannot for ono moment, be looked upon, having regard to the difficulties of access and delays, as being so convenient a port: from the point of view; of the buyers as Hull.

R is strongly hoped, as a result ol the visit of. the Agents-General, the Premier of South Australia, and the prospective visit of the Premier of Queensland and other influential authorities, that other cargo from Australia, New Zealand, and the River Plate, such as frozen and chilled meat-, butter, cheese, corn, tallow, stoarinc, dead rabbits, wood, hemp, fruit, etc., may be shipped here as the most convenient and cheapest centre of distribution to the busy centres of the West riding—for which I may say ample cold' storage exists, in the port—in addition to such wool as is bought in Australia and New Zealand, regular.and frequent sailings of direct steamers to and fro from the port of Hull may, in the near future, lie brought about. The above are a few points worth, noting and the impartial consideration of the facts and circumstances must jrrcsistably lead ono to the conclusion that if such an issue can be brought about,"it will lead to ail enormous saving in the transport charges to the mutual advantage of tho Australian, Now Zealander, South African, and Argentine, producer, and to tho consumer in this country. A GOOD BOOK FOR WOOLGROWERS.

I would, like to draw the attention of wool growers to a book just published, entitled the Principles of Woollen Spinning, and published by Longmans, Green and Co., Paternoster Row, London. The book is written by Mr. Howard Priestman, who, * since his retirement from active connect.'oh with woolcombing and spinning, has taken to spending his spare time in writing on subjects connected with wool. His latest issue is well worth finding a permanent place in the library of all those growing or handling the -raw material, for no man can read this issue without his knowledge concerning the woollen trade being considerably increased. The first four chapters are especially educative in their influence for all growers of the raw material, giving them an insight into the . woollen trade which can lie found nowhere else. The first chapter deals with tho history of the woollen trade. Mr. Priestman tracing the origin of this important industry from 'very early times. The reader is given a clear insight into the methods adopted in carding and spinning a woollen thread, and we seem to have travelled a. long way since our forefathers “stubbed” and spun by hand and the jenny. While dealing with this subject, some notice might have been given to the first consignment of Australian Wool brought over by the Rev. Samuel -Marsden, about- the year 1807,. and which■ found its way into the production of woollen fabrics. In the second chapter wool and wool washing is dealt with, and here sever, al important, particulars are given concerning the chemical-composition of the wool and' the principles to be observed in the washing of greasy, skin, and sliped wools, the scouring operation also being dealt with. I endorse every word that Mr. Priestman says regarding wool scouring, for carelessness here incapacitates the wool to endure successfully tho following operations, besides reducing its ability to produce a perfect piece of goods. The chapter on carbonising is particularly interesting, for hero the reader is given a clear insight as to what manufacturers have to do in getting rid of vegetable matter, such as burrs, seeds, and moits, beforo.they can use the wool. All this objectionable mattor is not the bug bear to the wool buyer that it used to be, but all tho same, the less thcro is of it in tho Wool the more it is likely to fetch. The next chapter deals with shoddy, and here again, a very close insight is given into the manufacture of that commodity which cannot he looked upon with pleasure by woolgrowers, but which all the same forms a very useful part of tho raw materials employed by manufacturers in producing woollen cloths at a reasonable price. The remaining chapters take the reader through the various processes which, wool undergoes before it can bo called a spun thread, '.uul anyone wanting information as to how -this is done, cannot do better Ilian give this work close and careful study. Taking the book as a whole, it is well worth reading, and while tho subject is not fully exhausted, still, no mail can read it carefully without his knowledge of wool find the -woollen trade being considerably increased. Mr. Priestman goes to-: the foundation, lid outlines principles which.are fundamental, and all woolgrowers will be well repaid foxobtaining a copy and studying tho same.

DISORDERS OF THE STOMACH Are responsible for nine-tenths of the ills that liuman flesh are heir to. If you keep your stomach right you are pretty sure to be of good health. Cure your stomnch and you euro the rest. Get it in good condition and keep it so, and you will le able to stop all the dosing and physicking that seem necessary t« you now. There is only , one way , accomplish this purpose, and this i.v co ensure the digestion of the food you eat. Dr. Sheldon’s Digestive Uabules represent the natural jukes of digestion as they exist in a healthy stomach, combined with tonic and restorative properties. They actually do the work of tlic stomach, and enable that organ to rest, recuperate, and become strong and well. In fact, undei tlieir influence a man forgets he ever had a stomach. He >again becomes a good fellow, and a mail among men. Obtainable at A. AV. J. Mann, Chemist, agent.