Mohair. 53 



MOHAIR. 



The Future Demand and How to Meet it. 



By B. G. L. Enslin, Chief, Division of Sheep and Wool. 



Tin-: attention of Ang-ora breeders is invited to tlie following- letters 

 in connection with the mohair market received from Mr. S. B. 

 Holling-s, Editor of the Wool Recoirl, Bradford, and Mr. Gilbert 

 Walson, buyer of wool and mohair at Port Elizabeth and London. 



a) Mr. Hollings' letter: — 



South African mohair will be claimino- the attention of a large 

 number of readers, the advent of the new clip causing- interest to be 

 centred in this article. I^aturally, a large number are concerned 

 over the future of i^rices, and what is likelv to be made for the new 

 summer clip. It also is an item of no small interest to a g-ood many 

 spinners and manufacturers on this side, for mohair is undoubtedly 

 showing' signs of a revival. This is not to be wondered at after at 

 least six years of neglect, for the war dealt a deadly stroke to this 

 article. Nothing' else could be expected, in view of the fact that 

 Germany was the chief outlet for mohair yarns spun from Turkey' 

 and Cape mohair. There certainly has been some revival, and sig-ns 

 are not wanting- of a sensible recovery, and we think that South 

 African mohair g-rowers can look forward to better days. We should 

 have liked things better if continental exchanges showed signs of 

 recovery, and one must hope for an improvement after the Genoa 

 Conference. The reader must clearly understand that commercial 

 conditions in Germany and Russia are vitally connected with the 

 future well-being of the mohair trade. If we are to see any radical 

 improvement, Germany and llussia must begin to take mohair yarns 

 from Bradford on a scale approaching that seen in pre-war days 

 We should say that at least 75 per cent, of the mohair yarns spun 

 in Bradford before the w^ar were taken by the two countries named, 

 and one must therefore look forward to Germany coming- along and 

 j)urchasing' extensively before there can be any real radical upward 

 movement of mohair values. Of course, Bradford spinners naturally 

 say that the mohair yarn business can best be rehabilitated by prices 

 remaining on a low level as is the case to-day, but the writer contends 

 that a reasonable advance would not in the least jeopardize the 

 future of the mohair yarn business. Merino wool is to-day consider- 

 ably above pre-war times, and that is not affecting Germany's 

 purchases in the least, and therefore we say that Germany could 

 |)ay Is. per lb. more for yarns without trade being injured in the 

 least. 



The demand is certain to be strong and well sustained for all 

 fine qxuility hair, both kids and firsts. That will be the outstanding 

 feature of the season's trade, and we do not think that any produce 



