TEXTILE TRADE DISPUTE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18352, 24 August 1929, Page 17

TEXTILE TRADE DISPUTE.

Award Of Special Court. CONCESSIONS ON BOTH SIDES. (Dritisb OfflcUl Wireless ) RUGBY, August 22. The hearing of evidence by the Court of Arbitration Inquiring into the cotton employers’ demand for a reduction in wages of 2/64 in the £ was nearly completed to-day, when proceedings took a somewhat unexpected turn. Both sides in the dispute 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 the Master Cotton Spinners’ Association and the president of the Cotton Spinners’ and Manufacturers’ Association visited the operatives’ delegates and remained with them for some time. Court’s Award. The Court upheld the employers’ claim for 124 per cent, reduction in wages. The reduction will take effect from the second week in September. Later reports show that the Court also approved of the reduction of 124 per cent, in the list of prices, which is equivalent to 6.41 per cent, of the current earnings. The award, therefore, is a compromise, the employers receiving exactly half of what they demanded. The announcement of the cotton award was made, following upon a three-hour conference between the parties. Mr Justice Rigby Swift said the employers had made out a case for reduction in wages. They agreed there were many factors contributing to the present serious depression in the industry. The employees contended that there should not be a reduction in wages till the industry had otherwise put Its house in order. The arbitrators’ task did not Include the larger problem of the reorganisation of the industry which a Committee of Civil Research is investigating. The arbitrators were not convinced that a reduction in wages was the only remedy, in the present state of affairs, but they were convinced something must be done Immediately to alleviate the present position, and were unanimous that there should be some reduction in wages. The “Daily Herald” states that under the award, half a million operatives will lose approximately 1/3 in the £, instead of 2/6 demanded by the employers.