OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2611, 20 September 1909, Page 2

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

WEAKNESS IN CROSSBREDS

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

BRADFORD, July 30

The position of crossbreds is rather •anomalous, and to say the least there is not that show of life which one could desire. A steady trade seems to be doing in such qualities as 50’s, 56’s and 58’s, and comeback tops, but anything below 48’s is very disappointing. What I cannot understand is that some fair weights of cased fleeces are sellng, but tops cannot be shifted at all. Perhaps as pronounced a feature as any .is the expectation of further selling to America when the holiday season gets through. Nobody expects to see very much done during August, but all the same holders of the raw material are fully cognisant of the fact that a good long time has yet to elapse before any weight of the next New Zealand crossbred clip will be available, and anything can happen between now and the middle of next January. If the latest American cables are anything to go by than any week further buying can begin in' Bradford, and as far as one can see America lias not bought more wool than it can comfortably deal with notwithstanding that its purchases have been considerable. It is very difficult to say whether the present sales of crossbred lleeces are being made outright on American account, or whether the regular shipping houses are operating by way of speculation. But be that as it may, the fact nevertheless remains that wool is quietly changing hands both in 40’s, 44’s, 46’s, and 48’s fleeces. As already .said, tops are practically a dead •letter, and good 40’s can be bought anywhere from 12d to 12;‘-d, according to style and character. Some bold topmakers profess that they are firm at 13d, and all hope their attitude will be rewarded by making such a price. It is not too much to hope that the cheapness of coarse crossbreds, when compared with merinos, wall command the public support which they are deserving, and certainly strong qualities are very reasonable indeed. MILLS BUSY.

Taking a broad survey of manufacturing conditions in the West Riding, trade can be spoken of as fairly good, machinery is well employed, and in some districts overtime is fairly general. Here and there one meets with a chronic calamity howler, who says they are not busy, simply because they are not running till 8 p.m. Taking things as a whole there is not much to complain about, end so far there are few signs to lead one to expect any falling off in trade for the coming winter. Most mills have all their machinery running, and I know a case where a leading manufacturer, just outside Leeds, recently had occasion to make a tour to neighboring mills trying to engage scribbling and spinning machinery, and it was only in the Yeadon district that lie is able to find accommodation. The consumption of fine worsted yarns is unquestionably lexpanding, and here we have one important reason why merino wool is meeting witn such popular demand, and being so largely consumed. I was talking the other day to one living in Dewsburv, and whoso business it is to go round both that city and Batloy every week, rind lie stated enipliatically that business lias sensiblyimproved during the past six weeks. 1 am satisfied from what I actually know of the present condition of the woollen and worsted trades that if consumption is maintained at the present rate through the coming winter, little fear need be felt over the course of merino wool prices. The only unsatisfactory feature of the textile industry to-day is the lack of briskness in cross-bred departments. Notwithstanding the chronic complaints most crossbred spinners have all their frames going on one count or another, but I am afraid there are too many at present spinning tor stock. Spinners have plenty of orders on their books, but what they lack aie particulars, and this is the unsatisfactory aspect of the trade.