500,000 Made Idle

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 728, 30 July 1929, Page 9

500,000 Made Idle

COTTON LOCK-OUT BEGINS 1,800 Mills Close Down

(United P.A.—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and 2s.Z. Press Association) (United Service) Received 11 a.m. LONDON, Monday. VHE lock-out in the Lancashire cotton trade has begun. * Eighteen hundred mills and nearly half a million operatives are virtually idle today.

The situation created by the stoppage, following tile employers’ notice of a wage cut of 2s 6d in the £, is under the examination of the Government. The Minister of Labour, Miss Margaret Bondfield, it was announced today, has received a report of last week’s negotiations, and has considered the present position; but for the present she feels that there is no action which her department can helpfully take. Meanwhile, several mills not affiliated to the Master Cotton Spinners' b ederation have decided to carry on without cutting wages. There is a ray of hope in the fact that while the manufacturing and weaving unions decline to consider the proposed reduction in wages, the spin-

ning employees seem to be anxious to work out a separate agreement with the employers. Probably the latter will be prepared to modify the present demand for a 12£ per cent, reduction. The card-room operatives later in the week may seek to negotiate with the employers. The enginemen and firemen are to continue at the old rate of wages pending a general settlement. It is estimated that 10 per cent, of the Lancashire millowners will maintain the wages unchanged and will keep on working. The opinion is held in Lancashire that the next step rests with the Gov* eminent. The Prime Minister is understood to be considering personal intervention.