CRUCIAL SUSPENSE

Northern Advocate, 21 August 1929, Page 5

CRUCIAL SUSPENSE

LANCASHIRE COTTON MILLS

TENTATIVE RESUMPTION.

HINGING ON ARBITRATION. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 9 a.m.) RUGBY, August 19. Sir Rigby Swift, who is to bo *.he chairman of the Court of Arbitration set up to investigate the Lancashire cotton dispute, is q Judge of the King’s Bench Division. He is a Lancashire man and has an intimate knowledge of the cotton industry. In a message about the recent agreement to refer the dispute to arid tin t.ion, the Prime Minister, .Mr Ramsay MacDonald, expressed the hope that the ■ award of the Court would be given without undue delay and be loyally ■ accepted by both sides. Ho said he believed the industry required far move co-operative organisation.

The inquiry which the Governmenthad just arranged must also be pushed ahead as quickly as possible.

The cotton trade employers in Lancashire on July 13 decided to post notices. at the mills notifying ‘ that wages would be reduced 12} per cent as from July 29, on which clay the mills would be re-opened under the revised rate. It was regarded as, certain at the time that a general 1 stoppage would follow unless the Minister of Labour intervened.

What was expected duly 'happened. On duty 29, 1800 mills were closed and nearly half a million operatives were rendered idle. The manufacturing and weaving unions declined to consider the proposed reduction in wages, but the spinning employees seemed to be anxious to work out a separate agreement with the employels. It was thought the latter would be prepared to modify the demand for a' 123 £ per cent reduction. The engincmen and firemen were to continue at the. old rate of wages pending a general settlement. One firm kept its mills open on the basis of wages not being reduced. It is estimated that 10 per cent of the Lancashire millowners would maintain the wages unchanged and would keep on working. On August 1 the Prime Minister, Mr MacDonald, appointed the following to be a sub-committee of the Committee of Civil Research, to inquire into the industry:—Mr W, Graham, president of the Board of Trade, chairman; Mr A. V. Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty; Sir Alan Anderson, of the Orient Line; Mr Joseph Jones, and Sir William McLintock. The terras of reference were: “To consider and report upon the present condition and prospect of the 'cotton industry, and to make recommendations as to any action which may appear desirable arid’ practicable in order to improve the position of this industry in the markets of the world. ’ ’

Eventually a conference of repre'sentatives of 'both parties agreed that the mills should re-open last Monday, pending reference to arbitration.