10 JANUARY 1931, Page 2

The Cotton Crisis If the strikes against the " more

looms to a weaver " system continue in the cotton industry, the employers, according to their present intention, will resort to a general lock-out. On Tuesday, at a full meeting, they decided to support all the members of their organizations who are suffering from strikes. This. means a sympathetic closing of mills. At Burnley, the chief strike centre, the number of men who have remained at work is decreasing. The Labour correspondent of the Manchester Guardian reports an employer's statement that many operatives wanted to work but that they were diverted by the pickets. On Tuesday there was a joint meeting hetween the Cotton Spinners' and Manufacturers' Associations and the Weavers' Amalgamation, but the Meeting concerned itself with ordinary business and the " more looms " dispute was not even mentioned.

* * * - *