COTTON DISPUTE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 210, 23 August 1929, Page 5

COTTON DISPUTE

AN UNEXPECTED TURN. SEARCH FOR BASIS OF TERMS. [British Official Wireless.) (Received 23, 12.30 p.m.) Rugby, Aug. 22. The hearing ot evidence by the Court of Arbitration inquiring into the cotton employers’ demand, for a reduction in wages of 2/frl in the £ was nearly completed to-day when proceedings tools a somewhat unexpected turn. Both sides in the dispute had adjourned to separate rooms and it was reported that Mr. Justice Rigby Swift, chairman of the Court, had suggested that they might find a basis for terms. Later the president of the Federation .of k-aster Cotton Spinners’ Association, 1 and the president of the Cotton Spinners and Manufacturers’ Association visited the operatives’ delegates and remained with them for some time. , A COMPROMISE. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.! (Received 23, 1.25 p.m.) London, Aug. 22. The cotton Arbitration Court upheld the employers’ claim for a 12) per cent, reduction in wages. The reduction will take effect from the second week in September. Later reports shows that the Court also approved of a reduction of 12) per cent in the list of prices, which is equivalent to 6.41 per cent, of current earnings The award therefore is a compromise, the employers receiving exactly half of what they demanded.