"Palliative"

Fortnight ago the greatest British cotton strike since the War ended. In Manchester, Blackburn, Oldham, a halfmillion Lancashire cotton workers trudged from their dingy yellow brick houses back to the mills, agreed to abide by the decision of an Arbitral Board of Five: two workers, two employers and an umpire (TIME, Aug. 26).

Last week the umpire, level-headed Mr. Justice Rigby Swift, announced the decision: Instead of the 12 1/2% wage reduction demanded by mill owners, spinners and weavers must accept a cut of 6.41%.

"The five members of the Arbitral Board agree," said Justice Swift, "that the cotton industry is in an exceedingly depressed condition needing an immediate palliative."