The Cotton Factory Times. — 1905-12-15 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

NOTES BY THE WAY.  BY SCRUTATOR.  A Jacruese---Mr. Satori Kato—has been giving his views on trade unions to a London audience. In Japan, he said, it was recognised that there must be patriotism in regard to industry and education, but in the Western world they had trade unions which seemed to be organised to enable a man to do the least possible amount of work and get the most pay, and that, he thought, was crippling their industries. This is a bogus view of trade unions, and times without number it has been contradicted and explalned away. It is singular that a man should come all the way from Japan to tell this fairy tale. But Mr. Kato said "seemed," with a true lawyer-like instinct. He left the door ajar ready to escape if someone had confronted him with ample evidence to the contrary. I should advise Mr. Kato to lay hold of soave trade union literature and study the other side, leaving the employers' view entirely out of mind. Further, he should not go back to his own country and propound such a false notion of trade unionism. If he does, he will do himself an injustice, misrepresent the Western workmen, and Mislead the Japanese.  A little unnecessary alarm is being created about mill building, owing to an article in a contemfmrary purporting to state how " limited " cotton mills are floated, and setting forth the "good things" that are said to be made by the floaters. There may be a modicum of truth as to some of the projects—that is best known to those most concerned—but, generally speaking, we must all desire that the concerns are formed on sound lines. We must continue to have extensions in spindles and looms, but the opinion is now generally held that we have gone far enough in both departments, and that it is time to stop. It is no secret that the cost of mill building and equipping has gone up during the past eighteen months, and that to erect a mill to-day will mean a larger expenditure of r.loney for the same result.. Therefore, it is foolish of anyone to incur such a responsibility, or seek to thrust upon posterity a debt that will always be with them; in other words, mills built to-day will carry a perpetual mortgage of anywhere up to £20,000, in accordance with the size of the structure.  Cotton mill enterprises are obtaining the patronage of the "upper circles." The Duke of Marlborough has all along exhibited great interest ths Dritish Cotton Giving Aesociation, and done what lie could, as a member of the Government, to push the movement along, and to afford every facility for its successful experiment in British possessions. He has this week gone a step further and cut the first sod of a new mill to be erected at Failsworth, and to be named after him —the "Marlborough." He wrote: "It is a compliment on your part which I highly calue, and I hope it may remind those who work in the mill of the unfailing interest that I shall ever take in one of the greatest industries of this country." Then Viscount Brackley has come forward to perform a similar interesting ceremony in connection with a project at alkden—the first spinning mill built in Walkden for over a quarter of a century. One can only hope that the future success will not belittle the send-offs.  I have had handed to me a strange mixture of a communication sent by someone who evidently is ashamed to add his name thereto. The writer would send some strikers or other out of the town —anywhere out of the way. No doubt he would, and go on reducing wages until a Tom Hood arose and gave us another version of the "Song of the Shirt." He advocates a certain loom, and why, pray? "I wish the Government would come to and build a weaving shed to hold twenty thousand But, think, 20,000 looms! As it is, the Government won't do such a foolish thing, neither will a private employer, nor a limited liability company. The writer of the epistle talks about burying weavers "in a gold coffin" who commit suicide through having to work on the loom that he seems to have a mania about, Well, I do not suppose anyone will be inclined to accept the gruesome offer, even to please the writer or anyone else who may be interested in pushing the particular loom in question.  It transpired at the Royton Police Court, on Wednesday, that on November 25th there was a race between a man and a factory inspector down the street leading to the mill of the Monarch Spinning Company. The inspector was the well-known Mr. Crabtree. While going to the mill about 12 30, it seems he accosted the person referred Lo, who accompanied him a shorb distance, and when asked his business he declared that he was going to the mill for his dinner. After eyeing his companion well over, the man set off at top speed, making straight to the engine-house. The factory inspector followed, keeping closely at his heels. Presumably the man won his heat, but the factory inspector had the satisfaction of securing a conviction, the firm being fined £2 and coats in 15 cases.  Mr. Henry M'Neill, who is well known in cotton operatives' circles, has been placed on the commission of the peace for the city of Manchester. Mr. M'Neill is an active man of business, and has the means at command of wielding a powerful influence in any movement he engages in. He was intimately associated with the bimetallic question so prominent a few years ago, and was among the active promoters of the Manchester Ship Canal Co., being secretary to the Manchester Committee. The British Cotton Growing Association have also had command of his valuable services, and he has been largely instrumental in bringing additional capital and influence to this movement which is of such vital interest to Lancashire. He was also responsible for the arrangements in connection with the yisit of the Besses-o'-th'-Barn Brass Band to Franc& I compliment him upon the honour bestowed upon him.  I have just been looking over a long list of offices which the new Government has to fill and the salaries attaching to the same. One cannot but express surprise at the payments to be made to Cabinet Ministers and other officials. In fact, the uninitiated will be inclined to think such persons are very much over-paid. But if it is not infra dig. for an M.P. in office to receive a salary, for the life of me I cannot see why all ordinary or garden member should not receive an allowance. Some of these Government posts are necessary.  4,74 7.... I.' .•