20 JULY 1929, Page 3

The Cotton Crisis • By an overwhelming majority, the Federation

of Master Cotton Spinners have decided to reduce wages by 121 per cent. from July 29th. The President has xplained that the employers do not want to cut wages for the sake of their own pockets ; they wish the benefit to go to the consumer, and they are convinced that only thus can they save the industry. The operatives reply, however, that exports have fallen since 1922, in spite of the considerable reduction in the price of .cotton cloth, Here is something like a flat contradiction which needs elucidation. We certainly feel that elucidation is owed to the operatives before wages are cut, The Ministry of Labour has already- -intervened and has a particularly strong case in urging the postponement of any war-like action.

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