THE BOOT TRADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2400, 15 January 1909, Page 5

THE BOOT TRADE.

UNIONIST ACTION

PROPOSED STATE BOOT FACTORY. /

[Press Association.]

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 14

A conference between representatives of the New Zealand Boot Manufacturers’ Federation and the New Zealand Bootmakers’ Federation took place yesterday, the business being to discuss details in connection with a proposed industrial agreement to take the, place, of the existing award of the Arbitration Court. The • representatives of the Bootmakers’ (the employees) Federation asked for considerable additions to the award, more favorable conditions, and greater restrictions outside the operation of their own individual work. As a result, the conference failed to agree in the matter of an industrial agreement, the bootmakers’ delegates stating that they could not accept, the responsibility of meeting the employers in their views, and that, they would have to report to that effect to the Federation. The employers had put their views on the subject of the proposed industrial agreement in. writing, in order to prevent the- impossibility of a misunderstanding, but pending the consideration of those views by the Workers’ Federation, and in view of - the probability of an appeal to tho Arbitration Court, the document was not available to the press. The Boot Manufacturers’ Federation moots to-dav to transact formal business, after which the proceedings will close, and the visiting delegates will leave for their homos. At a meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Federated Boot Trade Unions, held last, night, the following motion was agreed to,: “That owing to the refusal of the New Zealand Boot Manufacturers’ Federation to concede a fair rate of wages and conditions of employment to the workers at the conference to-day, the executive take the necessary steps to secure the abolition of the duty on imported boots and shoes, as it considers the workers of the Dominion should not he taxed to support an industry which cannot provide decent conditions of employment for the workers connected therewith; that tho various Trades Councils. Unions of Workers, and members of Parliament be approached in reference to the matter, and a strong committee be appointed to make the necessary arrangements for an active canvass in the interests of the movement, and, further, we. are of the opinion that the indy solution of the hoot and shoe trade difficulties is for tho Government to start State hoot factories throughout the Dominion, and tlie Federation agreed to offer to loan the Government £2OOO for tho purpose.” ‘

REPLY TO UNIONIST MANIFESTO

CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 14. The boot manufacturers have issued a lengthy manifesto in answer to the resolution of the Executive of the Federated Root Trade Union. It shows as .regards conditions and wages that the provisions of the present award have been twice approved of by the parties interested when the award had expired and was renewed as an imhi.striai_agreemont. Further, the Workers’ Federation has admitted that tin* employers have, during the past few years, paid the- workers according t-o merit. The manifesto alleges that probably 80 per cent of the workmen employed under the presentaward receive the minimum wage, ranging to 85s. '.Regarding the state of hoot factories, ihc manifesto points out the inconsistency of the demand for the abolition of the duty on imported boots and shoes* a ml’ the establishment of State hoot factories, which, if Iveetratio in the' boot industry existed, could not compete with other parts of the world.