Cotton Board (United Kingdom) facts for kids

The Cotton Board was an important group in the United Kingdom that helped the cotton textile industry. This industry mainly made clothes and fabrics and was based in places like Lancashire and Glasgow. The Cotton Board worked to organize, research, market, and promote cotton products. It started in 1940 and was a special government-backed board from 1948 until 1972. In its later years, it was known as the Textile Council.

Why the Cotton Board Was Created

Before World War II, a group called the Joint Committee of Cotton Trade Organisations represented the cotton industry. In 1940, a voluntary Cotton Board was set up. Its main goal was to "help the industry by reorganizing it, growing export trade, doing scientific research, and promoting its products."

In 1948, the Cotton Board became an official, government-backed organization. This meant it had special powers to collect money from the industry, up to £250,000 a year. The board had members from both the industry and trade unions, plus independent experts.

The Cotton Board's main office was in Manchester. It also had a "Colour, Design and Style Centre" which showed off new designs and became well-known to the public.

Research and New Ideas

The Cotton Board used money from the industry to fund research into cotton fabrics. This research was done by the British Cotton Industry Research Association, also known as the Shirley Institute. By the 1960s, their research also included man-made fabrics. Manufacturers of these new fabrics started paying money to the Board for research from 1961. Later, the Shirley Institute joined with another research group that studied rayon.

Modernizing the Industry

The Board also tried to make big changes to the cotton industry, especially after the Cotton Industry Act 1959. This act helped factories get rid of old machines and paid workers who lost their jobs. Nicholas Ridley, who talked about the Board's history in 1971, said this effort was very successful and quick.

However, there were some problems. People were buying less cotton, marketing wasn't strong, and cheaper goods were coming in from other countries. This made people lose confidence in the industry. Because of this, some new machines were put into factories that later closed down or stopped working.

Even so, Ridley believed that the Board's efforts to modernize the industry were a success. About £38.9 million was spent on this, with the government paying £24.7 million.

Protecting British Industries

Between 1967 and 1969, the Textile Council (the new name for the Cotton Board) studied how productive the industry was. They wrote a big report.

The report suggested changing how goods were imported. Instead of limiting how much cotton could come in (called import quotas), they suggested adding a tax (called a tariff) on cotton goods from other countries. This was to help protect British industries. The government agreed with this idea.

The suggested taxes were:

• 6½ percent on yarn (thread)
• 15 percent on cotton cloth
• 17 percent on most clothing

These taxes started in 1972. The report also suggested other ways to help, like investing more money and having factories work more shifts. The government did not agree to give huge amounts of money for investment, but they did encourage smaller companies to merge and become bigger.

Promoting Cotton Products

From 1956 to about 1962, the Cotton Board worked hard to increase sales of cotton made in Lancashire within the UK. They used slogans like ‘Buy British Cottons’.

The Board also helped with new ways of working, design ideas, hiring and training workers, and encouraging companies to work together. They showed off British fashion designs and fabrics at big events both in the UK and around the world. This included exhibitions about the history of cotton mills, displays of 1960s children's clothing, and promotions in large stores and fashion shows.

The End of the Cotton Board

The Cotton Board changed its name to the Textile Council in 1967. It officially closed down in 1971-1972. The Board itself asked to be dissolved because they felt a new, voluntary group called the British Textile Council could do the work better.

Key People

Chairs

• 1940: Raymond Streat
• 1957: Lord Rochdale
• 1963: Frank Rostron
• 1969: James Steel

Other Important Members

• Sir Cyril Ernest Harrison: He was the chairman of English Sewing Cotton and led a trade mission to Australia and New Zealand in 1959.
• Sir Alfred Roberts: He was a member from 1948 until 1963.
• Lewis Wright: He was a key representative and later became the President of the Trades Union Congress.