Announcing the decision, Sie Rigby Swift said that the evidence. given before the Cuurt disclosed: that the cotton industry in Lancashire was ina very depressed condition. The Chairman added that the Court was in no way con need that a reduction of the operatives wages was the only remedy for the present state of fairs, but it was convinced that something must. be done immediate ly to alleviate the position and, as an immediate easement, a reduction of wages should be made.
The Court expressed the opinion that it is most desirable that the: sub-committes appointed by the Premier in July should deal with the whole matter of the depression.
the Lancashire cotton industry as early as. possible, Later it was explained that the 325 per cent, reduction in the cotton operatives' wages is on "list prices". This is half the original claim made by the employers, which was for a reduction of twenty-five per cent, on "list prices", or 12h per cent. on current earnings, 60 that the wages of the operatives actually will be reduced only by 6& per cent, from September 14, under given out by the Court
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.