The Lancashire Lock-Out.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7080, 28 February 1893, Page 3

The Lancashire Lock-Out.

It ia singular to note, (says a Manchester correspondent on January 16th) that whilst public opinion. is daily becoming stronger.as to the imperative necessity of the dispute being brought to a close the parties them* selves, both masters and operatives, are seemingly indifferent on the matter. ' No attempt whatever is made on either side to come to terms, and the whole energies of the federations and the unions are directed to strengthening their means for holding out to the lost possible moment* So long as this spirit prevails it is extremely difficult to forecast the issue of the struggle, and all appearances point to a distant date before the end can be expected. The Masters’ Federation are doing their utmost to induce the Bolton employers to adopt the short time, with the view of catting off some portion of the supplies of the operatives, who can derive a considerable percentage of their strike pay from the contributions of the bands who are working full time in that district. If the Bolton mills adopt half time these levies will he stopped, and the desire of the Employers’ Federation to bring the Bolton employers into line is therefore, on their part, a necessary stroke of policy. More than a month ago a similar effort was made, but the Bolton employers did not accede to the proposals of the federation, and the conclusion was drawn that the state of the spinning industry in Bolton was such that short time running was not warranted The general opinion in Bolton appears *o be that there is small probability of the mills going on short time. The stoppage of mills in (south-east Lancashire would seem to have in some degree benefited the trade of Bolton At Bochdale a meeting will be held early this week. A deputation will attend from the Employers’ Federation, and the Boohdole employers will with them consider the question of a total stoppage. At present the greater number of the Eoohdalo mills are running short lime to assist the federation. This although it cripples the resources of the operatives, does not entirely deprive them of funds, The cardroom hands will especially be embarrassed by the total steppage of ibe majority of the 1,500,000 spindles in tho Bochdale district. . Beaouroes will be out off altogether from another 30C0 handstand a email levy will also be stopped. The epinners may not be troubled to so great a degree, but an addi tional number will be added to the lists of those who receive look out,pay. The decision with regard to the future working of tho mills in Bochdale is expected to be made to day. In other districts a movement is in progress for the farther adoption of short time. The operatives have necessarily no resources in tho way of counter-demonstrations to this forward policy of the employers; they are, nevertheless, consolidating their powers in the matter of funds and loans, and they express no fear with regard to the maintenance of the struggle for a very considerable time longer. The anxiety on the part of the public to see an end put to the struggle now in the eleventh week of its existence arises from the distress which continues to grow deeper and more widespread day by day. Unless measures be taken in the way of,relief works on a large scale the sufferings of the labouring classes in South-east Lancashire will, it is said, exceed anything in the history of the cotton trade •ince the American Civil War.