COTTON CRISIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 194, 17 August 1932, Page 7

COTTON CRISIS.

STRIKE THREATENED. Weavers' and Spinners' Wage Reductions. THOUSANDS MAY BE IDLE. (United P.A.-Electrlc Telegraph-Copyright (Received 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, August IG. The Central Board of the Federation, representing the 10 principal unions in the cotton trade, has decided to call a strike throughout the manufacturing section of the industry unless the employers make a better offer by August 27. If this decision is carried out the strike will involve 200,000 operatives immediately and may eventually stop 500,000 from working.

The Master Cotton Spinners have followed the manufacturers in launching a wages reduction movement, extending the crisis to the Lancashire cotton induetry. This section has long foreseen that the necessity of reducing the costs of production is as imperative with yarn as with cloth.

The Operatives" Association has received a month's notice of a reduction of 13.(59 per cent in wages. Their leaders say they are not prepared to accept such a cut.

The crisis will be intensified by the decision of the General Council of the Weavers' Amalgamation recommending a general stoppage in the weaving section over the wage reductions, but before taking action the committee is endeavouring .to secure support from the Northern Counties Textile Trades Federation.