LABOUR DISPUTES AND THE STATE OF TRADE. REDUCTION OF WAGES IN THE IRON TRADE. Throughout the whole of the Furnace and Cumberland hematite iron district, there is a movement in the direction of a reduction in workmen's wages. The demand has fallen of so rapidly, and prices have come down to such a serious extent, there being a drop of 100 per cent in three months, that makers have been compelled to revise the wages paid to workmen; and at nearly all the large iron and steel producing establishments throughout the district, as well as at iron mines and elsewhere, the notice of reduction is to the extent of 20 per cent. There is not expected to be any difficulty about this, as workmen can see the necessity of the movement. On Monday nearly all the ironworks along the West Cumberland coast were stopped in consequence if the furnacemen and other ironworkers having struck against a reduction of 20 per cent. Over 2,000 men are out of work, and the iron ore and coke is standing in wagons in abundance all along the line. Limekilmns and ore pits are also affected.