OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 17

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

ENCOURAGING OUTLOOK FOR ALL RAW MATERIAL. (From Our Special Correspondent.) BRADFORD, March 26. Some excellent merino and crossbred wool has been offered in London during the current series. Indeed the display has seldom been better than during the past fortnight, some of the best Australian and New Zealand wool being offered. When attractive wool is available there is always more keenness among the buyers, and this series merinos have been catalogued of 64’s to 80s quality, whilst some of the crossbreds have been of excellent quality and handle and well prepared for market. There have been cases in which criticism has been roused, and unfortunately it is not always true that as much care has been exercised as is really desirable. Notwithstanding the very low prices current, the New Zealand freezing works have maintained quite as high a standard of excellence as when the wool was selling at 6d per lb more. The different qualities of lambs are as uniform as ever, which is very creditable indeed. During the January series good slipe halfbred lambs were selling at lOd per lb. but now there is an improvement of up to 2Jd, and this is very gratifying, particularly in view of the care which is taken with the wools. Most crossbreds are. 20 per cent- dearer than last series, and it is very encouraging to find that the cheaper wools are coming more into favour, this preventing them continuing to sell at ruinous prices from the growers’ standpoint. At the same time it may be emphasised that no period of low values for wool should encourage carelessness in preparation for market. Scores of clips of both merino and crossbred wool could be mentioned which are household names among wool buyers. Their good name is of the utmost value to the growers. It would be little short of a tragedy if that name were to be lost, and many other clips could emulate the standard set.

Anyone who makes a careful study of the London sales catalogues will see what a big variety of wool is available. Merino clips come from all the States in Australia, and a good supply of crossbreds from New Zealand, along with offerings from South Africa and South America. Even a manufacturer may feel lost among such a wide range of raw materials, and there is little wonder that many will only buy from certain sources which they know can provide the same sort of wool as has given complete satisfaction in the past. A topmaker might buy good West Australian wool grown in the Murchison district which would make a top of excellent length, quality, and spinning value, but if this were to be substituted by 64’s wool grown in Central Queensland the spinning and manufacturing value would not be the same. This is a fact of wool manufacturing which many firms have not thoroughly grasped, and which is well worth recognition by- growers. The writer was recently called in to give his advice on a dispute between two parties, and it was found that whilst, there was no lack of quality in either of the yarns in question, the handle of one was defective. If a yam is too harsh in handle it will not come up any better in the cloth. Spinners and manufacturers need to know something about the source of the raw material, this being a very important guide to the results which are likely to be achieved. Topmakers in Germany go very thoroughly into the question of the quality and other characteristics of the wool they buy, and are able to give their spinner clients a statement of its origin, as well as many other details, such as proportion of burr in the top (or guaranteeing it absolutely free) and other details.

The following shows prices realised for New England (New South Wales) specially fine super merinos offered this series in London. Greasy and estimated clean scoured costs are given:—

RAW MATERIAL KEEPS MOVING. Quite an encouraging movement has been seen at the sales all this week, and though it is now known that the auctions will close a_ day earlier than originally arranged, this does not indicate any weakness in the situation. A big quantity of wool was available at the start, and it was known that it could not all be offered without pushing more on to buyers than they would be willing to take. Even this series there have been occasions when ouite as much merino wool has been put forward in a single sale as buyers could see their way to move. There is every probability, however, of the merino wool of this season’s growth being absorbed at around current values.

A surprising feature of the situation is the keenness of buyers of crossbred; but there . has been some movement of tons of this description, and undoubtedly the wool is still at a evry reasonable price in spite of the advances seen from the bottom point. Credit must be given to the Continental section for the support given to values since the sales started.

At the opening the home trade was very largely responsible for the basis of values established, and the all-round 5 per cent, improvement seen since is due to increased Continental. buying. A further expansion of consumptive requirements would no doubt be beneficial in consolidating the present position of the raw material, and there is good reason to expect that this will come in due course. WHAT OF THE FUTURE ?

This is a question of paramount importance to growing and selling interests. At the moment the keen edge seems to be off the market in Bradford, but even yet a fair amount of business is being done in tops, and there is no justification for any fear about the outlook for fine wools. One thing. which Bradford topmakers do not like .is . that the cost in Australia is above what can be realised for the combed article, and the same is true of a market so near home as Coleman Street. Cable information from Australia indicates that foreign competition is still forcS:he pace. Conflicting information has received from New Zealand. The writer’s own information is that prices at Wanganui were slightly in buyers’ favour, the offerings including a large proportion of shabby and seedy wools. Anyone taking thejr cue from such a report as this will certainly be mistaken. Prices for all fine tops are keeping quite firm, and, whilst spinners are professing unwillingness to follow the lead given, it is quite evident , that there has been a marked change in policy. There is no surplus of wool supplies judged according to machinery capacity and world consumi> five requirements. Even yet tops are pence per pound cheaper than in 1914, when nothing was happening to disturb confidence in prices.

Greasy Wool. Description & Quality. « -2 (P « g 8 OKU HAT/Saumaubez : Per lb. d. Per lb. d. AAA. W. and E., warp 7066’s 15 25 A, H., good 70’s i4i 251 A, W., very good 70-66’s.. 14i 24J AL/Muluerindie/New England : Super combing, W., very good 70-72’s 14J 233 Super combing, E., good 7072’s 143 243 AA combing.W. and E., good 70’s . . . . 135 23 V/Woombi/New England : AAA, E., good 70-74’s 153 263 RL/New England : AAA, very good 70-74’s . . 143 25 P/Arizona/Barraba : AAA, W., very good 70-74’s 14 24 AF/Maidbn Creek/New England : 1st W., very good 66’s, 70’s, and 74’s 133 231 Belbowrie/RLH/New England : AAA, E., warp 70-66's 143 25 AAA, H., W., E. ( good 70's 133 23 TS/New England : AA, W., very good 70-66’s 133 23 A, W., E., very good 66’b . . 123 22