The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-25
COTTON TRADE HIT
HARDEST BY WAR
Cost Of Production Greatly In
creased Even Where Spin
dies Are in Operation.
OF WAGE BONUSES

Special corysspoaAenes 70 Tne srS.
LONDON, June s.-The effects Of the
war upon the cotton industry are de-
scrfbed In the following article written
especially for TINE Bun by Sir Charles
w. NIAGARA, Bart. who 10 an authority
on the subject.
~ slR CnARLEs ". NIAGARA.
BART.
II has been universally Acknowledged
that Of al, the great Industries the cot
ton industry has been the rnost severely
affected by the war. This Il what every
ore would expect. as so large a propor-
ton Of its products are for export. Mills
adapted for spinning coarse counts have
been In an exceptional position In con-
parison with those spinning medium
and nne counts. The latter constitute
the preponderating section OF the trade.
The favorable condition OF the former
has been created by there having been
a considerable demand for army and
navy requirements. This Is the sole rea-
son for the good pronts In his COM
paratively small section.
II mus; he borne In mind that under
! present conditions employers who are
exceptionally placed have TO give up 90
per cent OF their profits TO the Govern
ment.
Owing to the war large numbers Of
men have been withdrawn from the cot
ton industry In order to Join the kinRe
forces. This has caused a shortage OF
labor. and In consequence a consider
able portion-say a quarter-of the cot
ton spinning machinery II standing Idle
This reduction In output has created. to
a certain extent. a certain scarcity o!
cotton yarn. and consequently an IN.
creased margin between the price paid
FOR the raw material and the price OBJ
tanned for the product OF the sptndles,
This again is entirely brought about by
war conditions.
II must be admitted by every one
that II a considerable portion OF a cot
ton mill Is stopped the cost OF produc-
ton must he greatly enhanced on the
machinery tha, IL running.
There Is also a great enhancement In
the price ~ coal and every other COM
modify which 10 used In the production
OF cotton yarns. 80 that the margin be-
tween the raw material and the manu-
featured article in ordinary times IL
utterly Inadequate under such conditions
as obtain n~ow-conditions that are un-
doubtediy attributable to the war.
II VIII be seen. therefore. that the
conditions Of working the cotton spin
ming industry since the war are such
! that no wage question he ron
sidered from the standpoint ms IN
whether .he trade can AFFORD II or not
but should he confined entirely to the en-
HANGED cost of living, and whatever fur
Their advance may be justified. II should
be given az n Wal bonus SO ong as these
conditions last. Indeed 1t should he
treated In exactly the same way az the
enhancement ~ all the commodities that
enter into the production Of goods. TIE
necessaries Of life are the raw material
Of labor and should be dealt with en-
tircly in this category. and the question
approached from this standpoint alone In
the shape of a Wal bonus 40 long as sucl
conditions exist.
" the cotton employers and operatives
would return to the arrangements which
have been Of such inestimable benefit II
the past and ut the same time emplo,
the scheme that has been In existence
for "A number Of years for estimating ths
profits OF the industry equitable treat
} ment would be assured on the return Il
normal conditions.