A dispute between the London Master Printers' Association and the
London Society of Compositors has this week reached a stage at which the normal production of the Spectator is not possible. The dis- pute, in which the Spectator is not a party but a helpless victim, began in November, 1949. In May, 195o after the failure of attempts at mediation, the L.S.C. imposed a ban on overtime, and since then the Spec- tator has been produced under difficulties, with a - reduction in the number of pages available both for editorial matter and for advertisements. The attempt to provide the nearest possible approach to a normal service to readers and advertisers has been maintained throughout and until last week the Spectator had been produced at the usual time and looking, as far as was possible, like its usual self. But Tuesday, August 22nd, the L.S.C. instructed its members to introduce a further instalment of restrictive practices in L.M.P.A. houses. This move was made just as the weekly task of composing the Spectator was approaching its peak, and the issue dated August 25th appeared several hours late.
At the time this is written (on Wednesday) the attempt of the London Master Printers and the London Society of Compositors to settle the dispute has reached complete deadlock and an emergency Spectator is being produced by such means as are available. We offer a formal apology to both readers and advertisers for the unusual appearance of the paper and for its small size. The apology could only be more than formal if we had any control over the circumstances which have made it necessary.
