21 FEBRUARY 1931, Page 3

Lord Derby, who understands Lancashire people well and whose instincts

are generally right in regard to the affairs of the county, appealed to the employers to get the mills open again if that were humanly possible before the opening of the Exhibition. Lancashire has, no doubt, allowed its great industry to fall behind the times, but Lancashire men, both employers and operatives, have never earned any blame in the past for failing in mutual understanding. Most of the trade disputes in Lancashire have been models of good temper and tolerance. We hope that the courageous action of the employers is only a prelude to a fresh era of peaceful adjustment,