LANCASHIRE COTTON TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1930, Page 2

LANCASHIRE COTTON TRADE

NEED FOR. AMALGAMATION

(Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, July 25. During a debate in the House oi Commons last night, tlie President' o. the Board of Trade referring io the position cl' the Lancashire cotton trade, said t.iat tlie boycott of cotton goods in India had brought a large part oi that trade to a standstill, anu conditions in the Far East had aggravated the position. The Minister referred to the more recent report of the Cotton Inquiry Committee, which recommends that amalgamations and co-operative organisations should lie set on a good basis. One of the greatest tragedies of the cotton trade he said, had been the

segregation of the different parts of the industry and. the necessity of those I parts, which were relatively strong financially, to come to the assistance ot other parts, which greatly needed help. | Mr Graham srnid the question was : whether the necessary organisations for 'these different sections should be made, lon the basis which the report sug- ! gefted, without bringing in the element of, compulsion. At presnt the Government was most anxious that a joint committee, representative of employers and the trade unions in industry. should proceed as rapidly as possible with an analysis of the report and with consideration of every step which could be taken to give effect .to its recommendations. Tlie Government preferred the Lancashire cotton industry should do this voluntary witli- { out legislative interference. LegislaI tioh of that kind would, however, be > necessary it there were any regrettable failure of the effort to promote fusion, on lines of what had been done in other industries in this country. The “Manchester Guardian” advices the cotton trade to take note' of this speech. “We share Mr Graham’s hope,” it says, “that it will not be necessary to invoke qnv legislation to deal with problems which are generally best solved bv those actively engaged in tlie industry, but it rests/

entirely with the industry to prove that it can manage its own affairs without outside assitance.” Various sections of the cotton trade are now discussing the committee’s report.