THE COTTON CRISIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 245, 13 October 1908, Page 4

THE COTTON CRISIS.

So far as can be judged, at present, the conflict between employers and workers in the cotton trade at Home has ended in the defeat of Labour. The majority of ; the operatives have decided to accept trie reduction of wages proposed by the . mill-owners, and though this arrangement is only supposed to be temporary, it is not very likely that the workers will be in a better position to continue the struggle three months hence when the position is to be revised. . But even though this compromise leaves the trade in a- very unsatisfactory state it means that at least for. the time there is no immediate danger of a general strike. As S the "Pall Mall Gazette" recently remarked, the ruinous consequences of such a struggle ought to constitute a practical guarantee against resort to so perilous an expedient. But unfortunately for everybody concerned, neither workers nor employers at Home appear to have realised that almost any conceivable way of settling an industrial dispute peacefully is preferable to "the dread l arbitrament of war." , The cause of the dispute between the , operatives and the cotton millowners may . briefly be summarised as "bad times." For I , three years after 1904, the year of the | "great cotton crop," came a period of , almost unparalleled prosperity for Lancashire. Not only was there work for { aU the cotton hands, 'but through the r erection of new mills, the demand for r labour was often in excess of the supply. , The workers in all branches of the mrr duetry received from 5 to 10 per cent ( increase in wages, and the employers secured large, and in many cases enorI mous, profits. At the end of 1907 100 Lancashire mills, in their published ac- ' counts, showed a total profit for the year .of £1,321,157 on a share capital of , £3,722,780. They paid on the average dividends of about 16 per cent, thus distributing over "£570,000, and reserving nearly one and a-half millions sterling. , But since last January it has been evident that the "•boom" has ceased, and ' within the past six months trade has . been so exceedingly bad that the millowners proposed to reduce wages by 5 per cent, and .this suggestion was actually accepted by a considerable number of the ' workers. But the great majority of the operatives insist that though they are willing to bear their fair share of the conl sequences of tTade depression, the mill' ' owners are asking too much. The men certainly gained far less than their employers during the "boom," and for some ' months past they have been suffering 1 severely from irregularity of employ- ; ment. Most of the mills have been running only four days a week, which means a loss of forty per cent or more to the ' workers. The operatives admit that 3 times are bad, and that "short time" is t necessary; but they contend that before wages are reduced the mill-owners ought to use up some part of the enormous reserve fund, which, as we have shown, > they were able to put by during the f "fat years," from 1904 to 1907. Again, r they argue that a reduction of only 5 per cent, though it will make an appreciable difference to the worse paid - workers, is not enough to improve the - position of the employers; and it has , been insinuated freely that the millr owners are trying to drive the workers to strike so as to have au excuse for 1 shutting down their mills during the 1 depression. As it is, the chief cotton- . spinning association in Lancashire has l agreed to stop 25 per cent of its looms until the end of October. But the danger of a general lock-out or strike has serii ously embittered the hitherto friendly . relations between masters and men in , the cotton trade. According to the Brooklands Agreement, under which the Lancashire trade is worked, the • men are not to ask for more than 5 t per cent advance in wages at any one 1 time, and they have kept their share of the bargain. But though under this arrangement the millowners may not re--3 duce wages more than 10 per cent within 1 two years, the men strongly resent the > request to return 5 per cent of their wages as soon as bad times come, anil they threaten to sweep away the Brooklands Agreement altogether. This com- » pact offered the best chance that the - mill-owners ever had of carrying on the trade peacefully, and it is much to be regretted that their ill-judged policy ha 9 rendered it abortive. For even the f strongly "anti-Socialistic" section of the r London Press admits that the reserve funds accumulated during the boom are sufficient to enable the mill-owners to pay good dividends upon the capital in- - vested for some time to come, and the !, general impression, even in capitalistic j circles, is that the masters, having acted in haste, may yet have to repent at their leisure. c i r The following is Captain Edwin's weal ; ther forecast for 24 hours from 9 a.m. . this day:—"From between west and south and south-east, moderate to strong 5 winds. Glass rise." "An unskilled labourer gets 8/ and 9/ r a day," said a speaker at yesterday afterI, noon's sitting of the Anglican Synod, f "and our home mission clergy get 10/ a day—the wage of an unskilled labourer. Ten shillings here is not like 10/ at 5 Home. The men who have come out are 5 not unfledged clergy, but men of ability and university education, men who did credit to the diocese, and we should of--1 fer them something better." The speaker t said that he knew of a case of a minister 5 who was reduced to such a state—he __ would not say a state of starvation — that he had to go to a man for a " cheque. A meeting of members of the original ', companies of the Auckland Rifle Volunt teers ("Royal"' and "City" companies), 3 who were enrolled in November, ISSB, j and who joined prior to January 1, 1860, was held in the lecture-room of the Drill Hall last evening, there being an i attendance of some 14. It was rei solved that the jubilee anniversary, . which will fall due next month, should be celebrated in a public and appropriate manner." The chairman (Mr J. Batger) • suggested that they should approach the - authorities with a view to their particij pation. He considered that all volunteers should have a hand in fittingly observing the occasion. On the motion of > Mr J. Culpan, it was decided—"That a 3 small committee be appointed to ap--3 proach the Minister for Defence, with a f view to giving effect to the previous resolution, the committee to consist of T Messrs. J. Batger, J. Henderson, E. Bartley, C. B. Stone, and Hon. T. Thompson." !

Owing to Wednesday next being Labour Day, the ordinary meeting of the Auckland Central Branch of the Liberal and Labour Federation of New Zealand will not take place. The general meetings of the branch standi adjourned until after the general election, as the members of the branch are actively engaged furthering the interests of the branch's nominee, Mr. Alfred Kidd. The members of the Council will, however, be called together from time to time to direct operations in connection with the City Central campaign. The Orepuki "Advocate" reports that an improved process of flaxdressing has been discovered by Mr H. A. Nicholson, of Otautau. The fibre is treated with a chemical, the constituents of which are not disclosed. It is claimed after extended trials that by its use fibre was produced, giving in one instance 15 points, and in another 17 points, over fibre treated by the ordinary process. The inventor claims that by his process there is no heed for paddocking the flax, there is less tow, an increased strength of fibre, and greater weight of the dressed material. These savings he estimated to run to £3 to £5 per ton, while the cost of treatment is set down at not exceeding 13/- per ton. The cost of the installing process is nominal, not exceeding £5. Ten sections of second-class land in the Mangakabia survey district, Hobson County, will be opened for sale or selection on the optional system at an early date. The total area is nearly 5000 acres, and the distance from Whangarei ranges from 22 to 29 miles. The Board of Trade Inquiry into the stranding of the steamer Star of Japan on the voyage from London to New Zealand, was held on September 4. The Court found that the cause of the stranding of the Star of Japan was that the master set too fine a course, and made no use of the lead; further, that the serious damage and subsequent loss of the ship were caused by his default. The Court suspended his certificate for three months only, and recommended him for a. mate's certificate during the period of suspension. Last evening a first-class concert was tendered to the resident veterans at the Veterans' Home, Epsom, by the members of the Orakau Orchestra, under the conductorship of Mr E. J. Gatland. The programme included several items by the orchestra, songs by Misses Dalton and Hanncken and Messrs E. J. Garland, N". Layer, E. Sutherland and J. K. Earle, and also a cornet solo by Mr Morris, and reading by Mr W. S. Dalton. Captain Archer made a few remarks thanking the members of the orchestra and Mr Gatland suitably replied, and a most pleasant evening was brought to a close by all joining in "God Save the King." On the 17 th inst. the Union Company's steamer Manuka leaves Sydney for Wellington after having traded in the Vancouver service for some months past. She leaves Wellington on the 22nd, taking passengers to Melbourne, via southern ports, arriving at the Victorian capital on the 31st inst., in time for the Melbourne Cup. The demand for passages to the Dominion by the direct lines has been so great (says the "Evening Post") that the third-class accommodation in the Coriuthic (September 17) and Arawa (October 15) was entirely taken up by the middle of August. The Shaw, Savill and Albion Company therefore decided to dispatch the Karamea as an extra steamer, leaving London on September 4 for Dunedin -with over 200 passengers. She is due at Dunedin about October 20. A 20ft. boat, floating bottom upwards, was passed by the brigantine Aratapu on October 3, about 15 miles west of Cape Egmont. There was a fresh breeze blowing, and the Aratapu had passed the boat be/ore she had a chance of picking it up. The boat was painted yellow on the bottom. It is expected that about 20 boys will shortly join the Union Company's ship Dartford to go in training for the mercantile service. The young people will be required to serve four years, and pay a premium of £50. They will receive in wages for the first year £3, second £6, third £9, and last year £12. No boy who has not passed the Sixth Standard will be considered. Parents will have to provide the lads with their outfits. The Dartford will trade in intercolonial waters, but she may make deep-water voyages as necessity may arise. At the Anglican Synod yesterday afternoon, Mr. Batger condemned as incorrect the reflections made at a meeting of the Parneil Borough Council as to the health of the children at the native school. He declared that the health of the scholars had been good l . The ailments, with one exception, had ucen trifling. Last week a horticultural association was formed in Taumarunui, aud steps were token towards holding a show early in the coming year. Mr. A. S. I Laird was appointed president of the association; Mr. Wm. Gardiner, secretary; and Mr. J. Mclntyre treasurer. A strong committee is being formed to assist the executive officers in carrying out the objects in view. There is no doubt that the formation of this association is a step in the right direction, and will do much to assist the progress of horticulture in the rising settlements all around Taumarunui. On Saturday evening a meeting was held in Gardiner's Hall for the purpose of forming a Rifle Club for the district around Taumarunui. Rev. J. E. Ward was voted to the chair, and explained the objects and the mode of forming the club. Mr. Duley, of Matapuna, explained what preliminary steps had already been taken. Over forty members had already been enrolled; the Minister of Defence and the member for the district had been communicated with, and favourable replies received; an excellent range had been found in a convenient position. The following officers were elected: Patron, Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P.; president, Mr. Phil Smith; captain, Mr Stephens; vice-captain, Mr. Dulcy; secretary, Mr. Combs. The New Zealand Shipping Company's t.s. steamer Paparoa, which is now on the way out from London, is bringing a i largo number of passengers to New Zealand, there being 49 in the first and second saloons and 171 in the third-class. The Paparoa is due at Wellington on the 24th of this month. In reply to a question from counsel, in the Arbitration Court yesterday, as to the duration of the present sittings, Mr. Justice Sim stated that he would be leaving Auckland to-day fortnight. ] The Ferry Company notify trips to St. Heller's Bay and Rangitoto Island tomorrow at 10.45 a.m. and 2 p.m. ! What's the use of coughing when Zymole Trokeys will stop it? They are ' pleasing in appearance and taste, thor-' oughly antiseptic, and contain nothing in j urious.— (Ad.) | If you are now wanting a nige suit' at a moderate price, then let us recom- | mend our ready-to-wear article.—Geo. i Fowlds.—(Ad.l I