JAPANESE COTTON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 98, 6 February 1936, Page 5

JAPANESE COTTON.

COMPETITION WITH LANCASHIRE

MORE MODERN, MORE

EFFICIENT

United Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, February 4. That Japan is heating Lancashire in the cotton industry was the theme of an outspoken speech in the House of Commons by Sir Walter Preston on the second reading of the Cotton-spin-ning Industry Bill. Sir Walter said that if Lancashire were given the same machinery as Japan was using and worked on mass production lines, with more modern marketing organisation, Lancashire operatives who were more efficient, could beat Japan in the whole of the Empire markets. . Several Lancashire mills have been re-equipped recently. Lancashire would be able shortly to publish world-wide the fact that she could compete. He then anticipated an inflow of capital which would reequip the greater part of the mills. Lancashire would then be in a position to win back part, if not the whole, of the market lost to Japan. Mr J. R. dynes (Labour) moving the rejection of the Bill, said that the trade unions were hostile because of the lack of consideration for the position of displaced operatives. They also objected to the scrapping of machinery which there might be chance to utilise . for more years.

The principal business of the House yesterday was the second reading of .the Bill, the object of which is to provide for the elimination of 10,000,000 redundant spindles in Lancashire. In spite of considerable opposition, a substantial majority is anticipated.