Evening star., 1932-09-01
BY C. T. REVERE.

NEW YORK, September l (NAN.A). J..
1t appears in the light Of an economic
tragedy that Lancashire, just as the
world textile industry appears TO be on
the threshold of genuine revival,
should be involved in one Of the great
est labor disturbances that ever has al
fiicted that great British cotton manu-
featuring center.
Gable advices from Manchester re-
port that about 10000 Of the 150,O0
weaverS and others trades union opera
tives have gone on strike. the stop
page of looms means the spread OF IDLE
ness to other departments of the indus,
try, including the spinning, cardlng ana
finishing branches. The disturbance
easily may affect several million people.
If the strike should become general in
character, 1t is bound to affect most
seriously the buying power OF more
than 10000, coo people within so miles
of Manchester. This view IS based on
the fact that many tradesmen and
others are dependent upon the cotton
industry for support, while thousands
receive a considerable part Of their IN
come from cotton investments.
Trouble Long Brewing.
Trouble has been brewing in Ian
cashire for some time over the EFFORT
of mill owners to induce weaVers 10
adopt the program of more looms per
weaver" The first suggestion involved
is looms per operative. Ths demand
was refused.
The mill owners next proposed re-
duction of wages, and last Spring 5000
union members went on strike and
have not been reinstated by their en-
ployers. The present great strike was
precipitated by a demand Cor the re-
instatement of these 5000 strikers.
Apparently, most of the other points
of dissension had been adjusted.
The effect of this labor upheaval
cannot help being reaching. The out
break comes at time when every
effort had been made to revive industry
throughout the British Empire. The
development would be regarded IN the
nature Of world calamity If 1t were
not for certain offsetting circumstances.
In the first place, it is not believed
that the strike, or lockout, whichever
1t may be called, will be permitted to
continue Every effort is being made to
restore industrial harmony.
Foreign Markets Needed.
Lancashire cannot afford to lose its
foreign markets, particularly at time
when the empire conference at Ottawa
placed British products on a preferred
basis. Ordinarily there would be a
general fear of the loss Of Far Eastern
markets to Japan. but these appre-
tensions are somewhat mitigated by
the recommendations made this week
by the Indian tariff board, placing ad
valorem duties from 81 4 to so per cent
on non-British cotton piece goods. This
step was taken as the result of an in
vestigation of charges made by Bombay
mill owners that Japanese cotton goods
were being dumped" in India.
Those who feel that the disturbances
in Lancashire might result in the
diverting of substantial orders to
American cotton mills are bound to
meet with some Disappointment, owing,
in addition to the tariff, to the existing
discrepancy in the quotation of the
British currency as compared with the
American dollar-a situation which is
likely to lead to the placement of orders
in markets where the currencies are
quoted either at parity with the pound
sterling, or at discount.
The cotton markets of the world were
greatly upset by the announcement of
the strike, and prices broke nearly l
cent per pound in the New York
market, with the decline, of course,
precipitated by drastic slump in
Liverpool.
The New York cotton trade generally
As not pessimistic over the strike de-
velopment. as experience has taught
the veterans Of the trade that settle
ments easily come over night.
(Copyright. 1882. by North American News
paper Alliance. 1nc.)