BRADFORD’S DIFFICULTIES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 23 November 1927, Page 4

BRADFORD’S DIFFICULTIES

TT has been suggested that the x compartive inactivity of Bradford woolbuyers at our sales so far is, in part at auy rate, due to the disadvantage under which British manufacturers labour in competition with Continental on account of the markedly lower rates of wages which the latter have to pay. It is of distinct interest, therefore, to our woolgrowers to note what the Bradford correspondent of a Sydney paper, writing about the middle of last month, had to say on this subject. At that time the Industrial Council had just met in Bradford to consider the joint case of the employers and employees on the question of wages and other problems raised iollownig the notice given by the lormer that the current wages-agreement would terminate during the last week of November. It had already been reported that the unions took a rather unexpected course by drawing up a referendum of their own in which no reference whatever -was made to wages, but which contained a clause suggesting the possibility of restoring trade by a “safeguarding’’ tariff. The meeting of the Industrial Council was held in camera, and nothing very definite was known about the proceedings. Each side presented a lengthy statement, the employees emphasising the poor state of employment, and the employers repeating a good deal of what was already public knowledge respeting the difficulties of the trade mid the number of firms which had gone out of existence during recent years. The only definite step which, according to the correspondent, appears probable is a movement towards a more united appeal for the introduction of duties on imported textiles under the Safeguarding of Industries Act. In conversations with manufacturers and piece goods merchants in Bradford, it was found that more attention was being paid to this tfian to wages. It was understood that at the conference suggestions for lower wages were made, but so far as was known nothing was said definitely about any alteration in the number of working hours per week as an alternative or partial remedy. Manufacturers, it is said, are as anxious as ever to see import duties introduced, and apparently some are prepared to allow the question of wages to slide. What actually takes place will, of course, depend upon the joint decision of the Employers’ Federation and the union representatives as expressed in the voice of the Industrial Council. That organisation rendered valuable service under very difficult circumstances in 1925. when the current agreement was drawn up.

The correspondent regards a satisfactory settlement between the textile unions and the employers as necessarey to guarantee a continuance of the recent improvement in the Bradford trade. “Everyone,” he writes, “recognises that the raw material is selling at relatively better prices than tops, yarns, and piece goods. Some striking .figures could be given showing what merino and crossbred wools were costim? at the last London sales in comparison with the present market value of tops. During the past month tops have shown practically no variation in prices, and wool is still the better proposition. Values for everything in this centre to-day are quite firm, and there is no immediate prospect of any decline. Even with regard to what may happen before the end of the year it is not possible to find unanimity of opinion, though it is customary to see at least slightly lower prices in November and December. The forward business done in fine tops suggests that some are convinced that they will then be able to buy at slightly less’ money.” So far as subsequent sales in Australia and New Zealand are concerned -this expectation has not been realised, and it will be interesting to note the prices realised nt this week's London sales which were to open yesterday.