The Cotton Factory Times. — 1903-09-18 (Manchester, Greater Manchester, England)

VOICES PROM TEE SPINDLE  AND TEE LOOM.  OLDHAM.  Royal MU—James Mellor, under carder at the Royal Mill, has been appointed carder at the Arkwright Spinning Company, Rochdale.  _ Commencing Duties.—The new manager and caider at the Central Mill Company entered upon their duties yesterday week. Mr. Robert Ogden, the new manager at the Commercial Mills Spinning Company, took up his appointment on the same day.  A ppoin t men t.—Mr. James Taylor, formerly and.rearder at the Honeywell Spinning Company, and recently employed as a carder at a mill in Mosilev, has been appointed carder at the Bathershaw Apinning Company. He has commenced his new duties.  Monarch Mill—Machinery continues to be erected at this mill. Twelve pairs of mules are g work. Mr. Arthur Dawson, secretary at the Park-place Mill, Blackburn, has just been appointed secretary to this company. Mr. Dawson formerly worked at the Gordon Mill.  Labour Representation.—A meeting of the Finance Committee in connection with the local Labour Parliamentary candidature was held last (Thursday) evening in the Temperance Hall to further consider the arrangements for Mr. T. Ashton's campaign. Committees, etc., were to be appointed.  Benefit Concert.--On Tuesday evening a concert and ball was held in the Conservative Hall, for the benefit of George William Yates, piecer, at the Vine Spinning Company, who has been off his work for nearly 12 months owing to a broken leg. It is expected that a substantial amount will have been realised.  Machinery Order.—A local firm has received an order for twelve ring spinning frames and eight doubling frames from the directors of the Parkplace Spinning Company, Blackburn. When these are erected the equipment of this turnover concern will be completed. Several local gentlemen are identified with this concern. Gresham Mill Company.—This new company ar3 about to take possession of the Gresham Mill, formerly worked by Mr. John Rowland. The mill was closed on Saturday to allow of the necessary transferring arrangements being carried out. Work is expected to be resumed in about a fortnight. A manager and secretary are being appointed.  - Off to America.—Mr. James Dawson, of Arthurstreet, with his wife and child, sailed for America on Saturday to take up a situation there. Mr. Dawson was formerly employed at the Granville Spinning Company as a cardroom jobber. For many years he has beeen the secretary of the Waterhead branch of the Card and Blowing Room Operatives' Association. Mems.—Work was commenced at the Henshawetreet Spinning Company on Monday morning after a long stoppage through trade depression.— Many firms are talking about closing altogether in consequence of the prohibitive price of cotton, and the unsatisfactory margin.—One of the latest new mills is advertising for a manager.—Work at the new mills is being pushed on with, to get them roofed in before the winter sets in. Werneth Man's Fate.—A Werneth woman reading a description in the newspapers of the clothing of a man found in the canal at Blackburn, proceeded to that town on Saturday, where she identified the belongings as those of her husband, a millhand, named John Ralph, who had been missing from home three months. Deceased had been in the water several daps, and the body was interred after the inquest ot Friday. The case is supposed to be one of suicide, deceased having been out of employment. The Mills.—The majority of the mills resumed work again on Wednesday morning after a stoppage of three days. There are 14 pairs of mules stopped during the present week at the Parkside N.. 2. Mill. The Shiloh No. 2 Mill resumed work on Tuesday, and several pairs of mules are stopped at the No. 1 Mill, as an equivalent to the day extra that is worked at the No. 2 Mill. The Highfield Mill has now been closed for 12 weeks.—The spinners and piecers at the majority of the mills, received their short time stoppage pay on Wednesday night, over 500 being paid altogether. Death of Mr. Josiah Mayall.—The death occurred at his residence Brompton-street, Glodwick, on Saturday morning of Mr. Josiah Mayall. He was well known in Oldham, and at the time of his demise was holding an important position in the firm of Messrs. Platt Bros. He had been employed by the same firm a matter of 35 years, having started with them when he was only fourteen. The deceased was taken ill last Easter whilst on a visit to Blackpool, and he has been practically confined to his bedroom ever since. He was 49 years of age, and leaves a widow and two sons.  Fair Contracts Clause.—At the Town Council meeting on Wednesday week Councillor Sixsmith drew attention to portions of the minutes of the Surveyor's and Tramways Committee, referring to complaints received from the Oldham Trades Council that the fair contracts clause, which should be inserted in every contract, had been broken. A'. a subsequent meeting of the committee an intdruction was given that the Trades Council be informed that in future contracts the clause will oe Inserted in the specifications. He said he remembered that over ten years ago in that Council Chamber he moved that every Corporation contrm.t should include this clause. That was in 1592, and it seemed strange that after such a lapse of time this clause should not have been inserted In the contract for the painting of the electric standards. It was an injustice to the employes and also to the other painters in the town, and it aremed a remarkable circumstance that after the clause had been in operation ten years a contract should have been given out without this clause. lie would like an explanation. Alderman Chadwick admitted that it was a fact that the clause was omitted, but so far as the committee were concerned, seven or eight tradesmen were asked for prices, and for anything they knew to the contrary the fair contracts clause would he embodied in the contract. The Town Clerk said that in all contracts issued from his office the clause was included.