New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-21
Belfast Linen
Manufacturers
More Optimistic
Textile Authority Reviews
Situation i'll Irish Field;
Flax Shortage Predicted
With Revival of Demand
BY Alfred S. Moore
Der'YvdIc Linen Co.
RET.EACT Auv,,o+

For many months the Irish linen in
dustry has been unable to get under
way, but now various circumstances
would seem to indicate that there is
at last a little sand on the rails. and
IL portents count for anything there
should be in the near future a move
forward toward activity again. True,
1t is not great move, nor can such be
expected for some months to come.
There is the one enormously cut
standing factor that with no stocks Of
linen goods in their household closets
people are absolutely compelled TO buy
o. DO without. Moreover, The buy
ing a ! the summer sales has held in
this direction IN no small degree, since
retailers find their shelves in sore need
of replenishment, and for any dsapery
store of pretcnsions to have TO con
fess to inquirers that it is sold out Of
linen goods is IS impossible as to I'M
agine a grocery establishment without
tea to sell.
Still another factor aiding activity
is the termination Of the coal strike,
which for prolonged period paralyzed
not only industry but the buying abil
ity Of millions. Add thereto the fur-
Their factors Of reduction in the
wages of the operatives so tending to
given to further activity in buying may
be better understood. In the case of
the linen industry this reduction as
applied to the weaving factories
amounts TO 20 per cent and dates from
July 49, However, it is not to be ex-
peeted that buyers Of linen goods can
expect corresponding cut Of 20 per
cent from the present quotation Of
goods. In fact, such is unthinkable I'M
der present conditions of limited pro-
ductior together with the extremely
unpropitious outlook as regards sup
plies of flax. Indeed, in respect to this
latter essential there seems every pros
pect that year hence, even with any
very moderate demand for linen fab
RIGS, fax will be both extremely scarce
and extremely dear.
Even now it would seem that many
buyers ere still hcsiuant about placing
forward contracts, though for this de
lay the prospective United States tariff
changes may, to some extent, be re-
sponsiblc. Some of the American buy
ers appear, however, TO be still OBJ
scssed with the idea that prices will
come lower, although how quotations
can decline to any degree it is difficult
to forcsec at the moment. Indeed, in
this connection the recent action Of
Belfast manufacturers in making GER
tain reductions in the prices Of sun
dry linen fabrics is not wholly above
criticism. Thus, while importers who
carry light stocks express keen salts
faction over the decline, those houses
which hold large supplies arc far from
being so we'll pleased Retailers cite
the brca% in prices as an excellent
illustration of the wisdom OF their
policy in refusing to buy FOR forward
shipment. In fact. they believe that
further reductions will shortly be an
nounced. and SO it is not their intcn-
ticn until the outlook becomes more
definite to increase the size of their
orders
All aspects considered, there is Won
dcrful optimism, and some trade au-
thorltlcs appear TO be satisfied that the
last half Of this wear will bring better
times for all concerned ana for the
linen industry as such. Blu. while we
have no desire 20 be pcssimistic. we
cannot see how linen prices can come
much lower, If at all Wage rcduc-
tlons may be a bear point" to borrow
the Jargon Of the Stock Exchange. but
1T must be Offset that financial condi-
tons are not yet much easier, and les
scnlng OF what is known as "ovcrhead
expenses is only minimal, while there
is every possibility that prices of flax
must increase rather than lessen. In
deed, IN some authentic quarters il is
asserted that present prices of fin
ished linens are below the costs OF pro-
dUctiOn