Complete Deadlock at Joint Conference Manchester, July 19. complete deadlock has resulted at the joint cotton conference which met here to-day, the employers refusing the request made by "the operatives that the notices of wage reductions should be withdrawn before negotiations commenced.
It will be remembered that on June 21 the Federation of Master cided to claim a reduction equal to 12.82 per cent, on the current wages of operatives in all branches of the cotton spinning trade. A ballot on the subject later showed that 92.4 per cent. of the Federation were in favour of the reduction. On the other hand a ballot of the Amalgamation of Operative Cotton Spinners showed that 974 per cent. of the operatives were in favour of resisting the reduction.
The outlook was. gloomy, but as the result of the mediation of Sir Horage Wilson, Permanent Secretary of the Labour Ministry, a joint meeting of the employers and operatives was arranged for to-day, only to end in a deadlock.
July 20, Sir Horace Wilson, Permanent Secretary of the Labour Mi is giving his urgent atten ti the Lancashire cotton deadlock, with a view to finding a new basis for discussion, Meanwhile Margaret Bondfield will keep in close touch with the whole position during the week-end, Tt will be remembered that a complete deadlock resulted at the Joint cotton conference which met. here yesterday, the employers refusing the request made by operatives that the notices reductions should be withdrawn before negotiations commenced. Reuter.
Very Broad Terms of Reference London, July 23.
Officials of the Ministry of Labour are cantinaing their efforts in Ma [chester to find a basis for re-opening negotiations in the wages dispute in. the cotton industry.
The cotton operatives, however, decline to discuss any cut in wages Jand refuse to continue the negotiations until the notices issued by the employers have been withdrawn. On the other hand, the employers; refuse to withdraw the notices and insist that any discussion must be on the question of a reduction of wages. At present they propose a eduction equivalent to about 2s, 6d, in £1. the House of Commons this afternoon, daring question time, the President' of the Board of Trade Mr, W. Graham, said that the i quiry into the cotton trade would be conducted by a' sub-committee of the Committee of Civil Research, This sub-committee would be composed of two ministers, two prominent industrialists, two leading trade unionists and two accountants, The terms of reference would be very broad. They would cover the condition of the cotton industry, and its power to recover its export markets. The inquiry would open after the holiday season and would last for three or four months, It would deal with marketing in India, China and elsewhere.
Tt is learned from a reliable source that a number of concerns who are prominent in the Lancashire cotton industry have decided to combine in a ce-operative endeavour to provide a new bleaching, dyeing, printing and finishing plant, 'At a meeting of persons interested in the scheme to-day, it was decided to raise a capital' of 25, (000,000 for the purpose.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.