INDUSTRIAL WAR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1341, 19 January 1912, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL WAR.

COTTON STRIKE. CASES OF GREAT PRIVATION, FREE MEALS TO CHILDREN. Bj Telecrash—Pre«s Asso:ia.tion-CoDsr!;ht (Rec. January 18, 9.35 p.m.) London, January 18. Many meetings have been held to test the feelings of the cotton operatives towards a truce. Thirteen hours of snowstorms in the North of England has increased the suffering, and there is general regret that they had not struck in summer, when coal and gas were unnecessary. Manyoperatives are economising by staying in bed in the morning, making the mid-day meal breakfast and dinner. Only 50 per cent, are receiving strike pay at some mills in Rochdale. There are many cases of extreme privation at Breakburn, where the educational authorities are providing the children with free meals. Judgment summonses against debtors have been adjourned for two months. COTTON SPINNING RESULTS. Mr. William Tattersall, of Manchester, has published his analysis of trading results of Lancashire cotton spinning companies for the bvelve months ended >• veinber 30. Particulars are given of "6 mills, with a share capital of ,£2,806,70S and loans JJ1,301.,792. The value of machinery, including plant, amounts to .£3,288,317, and the total spindleage is 6,570,532, there being 2,G57,3d8 twist and 3,833,181 weft spindles. Tho year opened fairly well, and moderate profits were declared at the December and March stocktakings, but the results published at the end of June and September were irregular and rather disappointing. Of the 7G companies, 15 have made a total profit of .£79,724, and 31 concerns report a total loss of -C-18,711 during tho past twelve months. On these figures the profit on share capital works out at a little more than 1 per ceht. per annum, whilst the gain on share and loan capital combined is i per cent, per annum. Although the results are not at all satisfactory, there is a distinct improvement on the previous year, .when the loss on share capital was over 10 per cent, per annum, oud on share and loan capital combined over 7 per cent, per annum. As 1011 draws to a close the prospects are decidedly brighter than for a long time back. For over three months spinners have enjoyed a' remunerative trade, and most companies are expected to report satisfactory profits at the end of December stocktakings.—"Financial Times." TRAMWAY EMPLOYEES.. (Rec. January 18, 0.35 p.m.) Brisbane, January 18. Members of the Tramway Employees' Union donned union badges, and the officials ordered them to be removed. The men declined. Many were dismissed. Two-thirds of the employees belong to tho union. A strike is expected. DANCERS' DEMANDS. Paris, January 17. A strike of the ballet in the middle of a performance, at tho Opera House necessitated the dispersal of the audience. The dancers demanded that their wages should be'raised from .8120 to ,£l5O. GOVERNMENT MEDIATION. Buenos Ayres, January 17. The railway men on strike have agreed to the Government's mediation. TWO CLIPPER BOYS. Sydney, January 18. Eight hundred employees in the Pelawmain colliery have been rendered idle as a result of two clipper boys refusing to work. SYDNEY WHARF LABOURERS. Sydney, January 18. The wharf labourers appointed as delegates to confer with Employers' Union officials express the opinion that the longstanding troubles will be settled in a fewdays. ACTION AGAINST PICKETS. Melbourne, January 18. The Hairdressers' Association has asked the Premier to take action against pickets preventing customers from entering shops where the ,smployecs struck.