COTTON INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20782, 30 July 1929, Page 9

COTTON INDUSTRY

CRISIS IN LANCASHIRE. BOTH SIDES STAND FIRM. OUTLOOK DECIDEDLY BLACK. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, July 28. Unless an eleventh-hour miracle happens, 1800 Lancashire cotton mills and 500,000 operatives will be idle to-mor-row Nothing was done to-day to bridge the gulf, which the statements of the two sides show is disastrously wide.— Australian Press Association. >' A RAY OF HOPE. FEELING AMONG SPINNERS. ■

LONDON, July 20. (Received July 20, at 9 p.tn.) ■ Though the deadlock-continues in Lancashire there is a ray of hope in the fact that while the manufacturing and weaving unions decline to consider a reduction the spinning section seems anxious to work out a separate agreement with the employers, who will probably be prepared to modify the present demand for a 12A per cent, reduction. The cngincmeu and firemen continue at the old wages pending a general settlement. The Tootnl Broadhurst Company is one of the firms which are keeping the mills open on the basis that wages will not be reduced: ,It is estimated that 10 per'cent. dfvth.eJD'ancashlrc mills will maintain-the ■wages which arc at present being paid,' and will, keep on working.—Australian Press Association. LOCKOUT BEGINS. HUNDREDS OF MILLS IDLE. LONDON, July 29. (Received, July 29, at 11.15 p.m.) The Lancashire cotton mills lockout has begun, and 1800 mills and 500,000 operatives are virtually idle.—Australian Press Association. OPINION IN LANCASHIRE. NEXT STEP WITH GOVERNMENT, LONDON, July 29. (Received July 30, at 0.30 a.m.)

Hopes have been aroused that the spinners and cardroom workers may later in the week-seek to negotiate for a-[separate agreement, and in that event the employers are likely to modify the wage cut. .* The opinion in Lancashire is that the next step rests with the Government, and it is understood that Mr MacDonald is considering personal intervention. — Australian Press Association.