Cotton Conference Progress On Wednesday evening the two parties in
the Lancashire cotton dispute had at any rate reached agreement about something, even if it was only regarding the agenda for Thursday's conference. The reinstatement issue is still to the fore, but a fortnight of reflection must have convinced both masters and men, if they are capable of conviction at all, that some way can and must be found round this outstanding obstacle. Already the strike must have cost several times as much as the expense involved in paying the temporary hands three months' wages and reinstating the strikers, who after all only came out after the masters had summarily cancelled a wage agreement. All this, of course, refers to the weaving side of the industry, but the spinners too are making some progress with their negotia- tions. The abandonment by the masters of the specific demand for a 25 per cent. cut on piece price list rates eases the situation a good deal, for the men have always been ready to discuss some reduction, but not to agree to so high a figure as that. Also it takes the sting out of the ballot whose result was announced on Wednesday, result- ing in an overwhelming majority against the 25 per cent., but leaving the executive free to make the best terms it could on the basis of some lower figure.
Previous page
