THE COTTON TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10596, 10 November 1897, Page 5

THE COTTON TRADE.

THE PROPOSED REDUCTION OF WAGES.. - 1

■' :i ' ;■;< ARBITRATION AGREED TO. \I Prtsi Anocintion.-Klectric Telegrapli.—Copjilelit. 1 London; November 8.. It was lately announced •• that the cotton 1 spinners of Great Britain had decided that, in view of the condition of trade, a general reduction of five per cent, in the 'wages of their employees must be' made, A fortnight's, notice was given to the employees to consider the • proposed reduction, the threat being made that in the event of its rejection, the proprietors of .28,000,00§ spindles will throw their , machinery idle. - The associations of 1 the cotton trade operatives considered the em; ployers 1 proposal, arid decided to refuseto submit to a reduction in wages, - The employers then suggested , ! that the question should bo settled by arbitration, and to this course the operative cotton spinners have now agreed. j

[On the 2'Jml September lasb the employers issued the following circular:"Sir or sir?,—At 'a meeting held . yesterday of fully accredited representatives of the following . Cotton Employers' Association?, namely: The federation of Master Cotton Spinners' Associations, The Bolton Master Cotton Spinners' Association, The North anil North-East Lancashire Cotton Spinner? and Manufacturers', Association, 'The Cliorley Master Cotton Spinners' Association, The United. Cotton' Manufacturers' Association (these bodies representing the whole, of the cotton industry in the four northern , counties), , it)" was unanimously resolved that the subjoined questions should be .pat' Simultaneously:, to all spinners in the , trade 1. Are you in favour "of notice being given for a reduction of five per cent, in the operatives' wages if 80 per cent, of the spindles of the trade are willing to do the same? 2. Do you intend to stop your mill in case of the operatives resisting, or will you pay a levy of |d per spincllo per week during tho time you may run your mill Please bo good enough to return your reply to the joint secretaries on the annexed form as early a? possible, but not later than . Thursday, th? 30th September. N.B.—lf, you send no reply to this circular tho joint associations will consider that you are not favourable to the course proposed." The signatures appended to the above circular seem to indicate that both the spinning and weaving 'branches of tho trade ace unanimous on, this point. . Tne Spinner's* Association includes 16,000,000 spindles,' the Bolton employers .8,000,000, and .the East J Lancashire 6,500,000, whilst the others total 7,1500,000. These make up a total of 38,000,000 spindles, which it) is stated are practically all that, can be called living spindles. The magnitude of the issues at stake can hardly be overestimated, in tho epihdle*looms and owners' capital it is estimated that there is not less than £60,000,000 involved, and any stoppage iii the earning power will be of national importance.] ,