Tulleth Spinning Mill at Preston, which has had more than £1,250,000 spent on modernisation in recent years, is to-close. This announcement was made during the course of Wilson's visit to the North West, and it is not thought thatit co-incidence. 500 workers are to lose théir jobs-. The rundown in the labour force will stert with the laying off of the night and evening shifts on February 9-10. The rest will be phased out over a period of weeks as order® are completed. A notice posted in the mill yesterday said the shutdown was the result of "the disruptive effect on trade of the huge volumes of imports and the enpe pe attitude of the present Government." Jack Furness, the company's managing director, said: "We had hoped for better things from this Government. This situation is deplorable." A revort on trading conditions in the textile industry. published in Manchester on January 8th. shows that the majority of firms in cotton textiles, clothing and allied trades suffered major setbacks during 1967. The net earnings, after tax, of 155 companies controlling more than 500 mills and textile factories amounted to £61lm. compured with £75,250,000 in 1966. ,
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Political Notes continued /