Government's Decision to Sus-
Pend it: Serious Blow to Lancashire London, Nov. 30.
It is officially announced that the Government of India has decided to suspend the cotton excise duty immediately as a preliminary to complete abolition when the next Budget is submitted if present financial anticipations are borne out, Dee. 1
The Government of India's dei sion to suspend the cotton excise duty is much regretted in. Lancafe. Indian manufacturers now will have protection to the extent of 11 per cent., which is the present import duty.
Members of the House of Commons representing Lancashire declare that the suspension of the Lane: industry, whi excise duty
works on a very fine margin.
Following a private conference between the Manchester Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Master Gotten Spinners' Associations and the 'Cotton Spinners and" Mano facturers' Association with regard to the suspension of the Indian cotton excise duty, a joint state-issued "hoping that the forthcoming abolition of the. duty will assist the Indian cotton industry to overcome its difficulties. The statement trusts that, when the finances of India permit, the Import duty-on Lancashire cotton goods 20 will be reduced and that. the future needs of the Indian market will be met in an increasing ratio by their own "manufacturers in their class of product and by Lanca. shire in the types upon which she naturally. will concentrate-—-Reuter.
Bombay, Dec. 1.
In view of the suspension of the cotton excise duty, the Bombay Millowners' Association are restor~
{ng cotton operatives' wages tothe old level from December 1. The mills will re-start working s0 soon as a sufficient number of operatives: present themselves for work, A hundred and thirty-five thousand mill-workers have "been fon strike since the middle of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.