The Lancashire Dispute It was high time that some mediator
intervened in the cotton trade disputes which have been steadily becoming more embittered as the state of the industry has worsened. The Deputy Lord Mayor of Manchester, in inviting representatives of employers and operatives in both the spinning and weaving sections of the trade to confer with him on Wednesday, showed great public spirit, and direct negotiations have been resumed as a result. The weavers' leaders had already rejected a proposal to strike last Saturday, preferring to wait for another week. Meanwhile it has been made clear that the weavers in several of the South Lancashire towns, like Hyde, will not join in the strike, though North-east Lancashire may follow the example set by Burnley. The attitude of the operative spinners, faced by a demand from their em- ployers for a reduction of 12} per cent. in their wages, is as yet undetermined, though resistance to the pro- posal is strong. But it may be hoped that even now counsels of peace may prevail. Lancashire has lost so much trade already to her Eastern and European corn. petitors that she cannot afford the luxury and folly of a strike which might deprive her for ever of some of her remaining markets. The Government might well lend its aid to the mediation which Manchester has begun.
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