OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2715, 21 January 1910, Page 2

OUR YORKSHIRE LETTER.

A STEADY MARKET. (From Our Own Correspondent.) BRADFORD, Dec. 10. After the hurly-burly of the wool sales the trade has once more settled down to normal, and business looks more tike what it usually is. At the same time it is just as well that we have such a big event as a series of sales, for then we soe at once where wool actually stands. Recent purchases are .already 'arriving in consuming centres, and,‘while the raw material looks dear enough, still it is hardly so extravagantly high as it was in September. Users can well do with something more reasonable, for prices then were extravagantly high. It’s . all right enough for wool-growers to receive big figures for their clip; but at the same- time it must always he borne in mind that when the user finds lie can do no good with the wool, he is not long in devising moans for remedying an unprofitable situation. If growers could have heard one half the grumbling that has been made about dear wool this last six months they would think that a dead set had been made against prices, and no doubt there was when things declined in October. Wool would have still further slipped back but for the lar<re needs of users, and it is only an absence of stocks which caused values to slightlv appreciate. However, business is proceeding apace, and the way wool lias been sent out from London warehouses to buyers is certainly encouraging from many standpoints. Whenever a inan has bought instructions have at once been <riven for the despatch of the same, thus clearly proving tho great need that exists, for a speedy supply of the raw material.

—The Best Growing Parts of South

Africa. —

It may not bo generally known to Australian readers, but the "Western province of Cairo Colony is unquestionably the best wool growing area in the whole of South Africa. Farmers in this part of tho Colony are not so addicted to shearing every six months as they are elsewhere, consequently the wools are better liked, and as a rule we got more uniform result's. There is always far more, competition for these wools than for the red, earthy fleeces grown in other parts of the Colony, and being as a rule better prepared for market is also another important essential which helps to promote competition. The confidence- of the trade has in the past been very largely shaken in Capo wools owing t-o their disappointing yield, it being no uncommon thing for Hie most expert buyers to be from 3 to 5 per cent, out in estimating the clean yield. Statements have oft-times been made of tops costing anywhere from Id to 2d) more than expected owing to the excessive shrinkage in tho wools, this meaning a direct less to buyers. It only needs men to be so bitten two or three times to sec them leave alone South African wools, but with little farmers’ clips being bettor skirted and locked competition is again broadening, and there are more people buying Cape wools than formerly. There is not a great deal new to say regarding the situation. Things are pursuing the even • tenor of their course, and as far as one can see there is not now likely to be much change with the year fast drawing to a close. Interest has been kindled with the opening of the Sidney sales, and if the cabled results are to be relied; upon, then wool seems pretty dear. At the same time the fact- is very significant that importing tonmakers are still willing sellers at last week’s prices, and it seems strange if wool is costing so much that topmakers arc stil] prepared to accept what they were quoting a week ago. There is not a great deal of business passing, the political outlook, no doubt, influencing a good many in their actions. This month importers begin delivering part of’ their •new contracts, and it hardly scorns likely that spinners are going to. pay more when they have tops bought- at Id to 2d less than wliat is being quoted to-day. So far as .new business is concerned, there is very little doing. Even direct importers state emphatically that they are not- finding much demand, and new contracts are being taken up with very little zest. _Most attention at present seems to lie given to crossbreds, and those are still selling in fair quantities both lor Home and export. The feeling generally seems to favor higher prices, and judging from the cabled reports from New Zealand and Buenos Aires, crossbred wool is selling freely. There seems to bp with- many people more hope entertained over the' strength of crossbreds than merinos, some thinking that tliero is a little more latitude about the former. However, there is no doubt, that- -coarse qualities are still reasonable, and at 14d for- 40\s nobody can say they are dear. The demand is- still good for 4.6 g to 50’s, and -wool sells, freely, in fact, it is a somewhat scarce article, and anythin!? of either carding or combing length can easily bo disposed of. During tho past week a fairly healthy demand has sprung up for crossbred fleece wools on Home account, largely due to the fact that users arc being forced to come into the market, they wanting now the raw material. The difficulty with many is in not being able to buy, stocks being so small in the hands of everybody. Even English staplers feel that their position to-day is a very strong one, and there is also more doing in skin wools. Mohair is very quiet, business of only -a hand to mouth character being done.