500,000 FACE IDLENESS

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1929, Page 9

500,000 FACE IDLENESS

CRISIS IN COTTON INDUSTRY LOCKOUT TO START MONDAY FEAR ALSO IN WOOL TRADE By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian Press Assoeiiation. . Received July 23, 5.5 p.m. London, July 22. There is no sign, of the cotton employers withdrawing the- lock-out notices, which expire on Sunday. Half a million operatives will be affected. Trouble is feared also in the wool trade, following an employers’ motion at an industrial council meeting to-day for an all-round reduction of wages. The Ministry of Labour, through its permanent secretary, Sir Horace Wilson, is keeping in touch with both parties in the cotton dispute. Efforts are being made to reach an eleventh hour agreement.

It is understood in such case the Government would expedite the projected investigation under the industrial courts into the cotton industry.

The cotton mill owners claim that increased costs of production necessitate a reduction of wages, which will become effective on Monday. The labour interests refuse to accept any reduction and intimated they would not man the mills. The owners replied by issuing lock-out notices. A conference convened by the Government was held at Manchester, the owners and men failed to reach an

agreement.