7 FEBRUARY 1931, Page 3

The Cotton Lock-out On Tuesday, there was a joint conference

of employers and operatives in the cotton industry, but the only move towards ending the lock-out was a decision that the weavers' General Council should meet on Saturday of this week. Before the conference both sides received an urgent appeal from the Prime Minister to settle the dispute. One of the delaying influences is the action of the extremists in the weavers' Unions. On Monday, these extremists sent an unofficial deputation to London uselessly advocating a scheme for immediate State control of the industry.