The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-22 00:00:00

market or Liverpool ; and the fact of cotton spinning
Leing so comparatively limited in extent in Manchester
we believe, mainly to be attributed to those disad-
vantages attending its prosecution in this city to which
we have drawn public attention. In nearly every other
town in which cotton splnning is established there has
been a large increase of mills during the last ten year,i,
but in Manchester there has been very little extension,
clearly showing that other districts were more favour.
ably situated for the prosecution of the trade ; and we
mu-t, in justice to ourselves, say that we think the past
dictatorial conduct of this class of self-acting minders
and piecers has largely contributed to this result. Why,
at this very time they refuse to work in several of the
mills fur% the same principle as is common in nearly
overy other town in Lancashire and Cheshire, and which
we are convinced is the prinCiple best adapted to pro-
duce the most favourable result, both for masters
and men, in many, if not in all our establishments.
They will only work the mules in the manner
which they deem to be proper, and they reject all pro-
positions' to adopt these plans here (excepting at one
or two mills), although at one of their recent public
meetings some of the minders from Pooley's mill, where
the new principle was recently established, bore full
testimony to its advantages to them. In order to give
some idea of the effect of these irregularities in price we
may mention a fact which has recently occurred. The
machinery, of an old-established and highly respected
firm in this city was sold by auction. While it was
working hero the hands were paid fur minding and
piecing at is. 9.3 d. per 1,000 harks on some small mules.
These mules were purcha.sd by a firm within eight rifles
of the place where they stood here, and the price paid
for working the Fame mules on the same description of
work where they now stand is is. 2d. only. To put this
question In a hypothetical shape : If two parties speit
50,0.00/. each in a mill ,aa,d machinery, one at StoclEpotit;
er-Ashtetii:vr add the 'other at. Mah-
cheater, and fitted them up precilrely alike-in every
rie-
spect, it would follow as are,,ult, from the differences of
the rates of wages alone, that the mill at Manchester
would pay at least 1,500/. per annum more wages than
Vie other for producing the same work at the urices now
current, which in 20 years of business (the ordinary tine
which it is calculated machinery will last) would amount
to 30,0001. in favour of the mill working just outside
the boundaries of the suburbs of this city. Surely this
fact needs no comment.

" The times through which we are now passing will
not admit of these irregularities being continued, and,
although it is a most unpleasant task to us, we have
concluded to adopt the coil:some have taken, after very
serious consideration. Either' the prices paid by our
neighbouring fellow-masters must be raised to the level
of the list by which we have long paid, or ours must
fall. We regret the necessity of this proceeding as much
as the operatives themselves, and we cannot but deplore
the existence of the high prices of provisions to which
they draw our attention. The question at issue be-
tween us, however, is not one of benevolence, but one of
a purely commercial character. They have their labour
to sell—we are willing to purchase it. Like every other
commodity, it has its market price. We have offered
to give even more for it than they can obtain in other
towns near us, and we are not justified in going further.
We have no inducement, in the state of our business
now, to continua making sacrifices which only a pro-
fitable trade enabled us to meet ; and we deeply regret
being obliged to occasion any increase of the suffering
which 'high prices of provisions always entail on the
working population. We feel assured, however, that a
careful reflection on the statements we have made, and
an inquiry into the facts we have detailed, will justify
our proceedings not only to the operatives themselves,
but to the public at large.
" RICHARD BIRLEY AND CO.
"THE HANOVER MILL COMPANY.
" JAMES KENNEDY AND CO.
"J. CLARKE AND BROTHER.
"J. H. CLARKE AND CO,
" SIMPSON, THOMPSON, AND CO.
"KELLY AND GILMOUR."