ARBITRATION COURT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2513, 28 May 1909, Page 6

ARBITRATION COURT.

THE BOOTMAKEKS’ DISPUTE

(Per Press Association.)

AVELLIN GTON, Alay 27

The Arbitration Court continued the hearing of the dispute in the bootmaking industry to-day. Mr. Frostick, continuing his address on behalf of the employers, quoted figures to show liow the importation of boots was increasing. If all the boots now imported were made in New Zealand, employment would be given to about fifteen hundred persons. Nearly two hundred thousand more pairs of boots were imported in 1906 than were made in New Zealand. An award for higher wages would mean that it would be impossible for employers to carry on without running great risk of destroying their business. If wages were based on profits they must also be based upon losses. Australia, with a population of Tour millions in 1906, imported footwear to the value of £96,889. In 1908 they imported £52,970 worth, a decrease of £13,914 for the two years. New Zealand, with a . population of about one million, imported boots valued at £128,187 in 1906, and British importations in 1908 were valued at £143,182, an increase for two years of £13.995, ,as against Australia’s decrease of £13,914. Surely these were startling figures to be considered, not only by boot manufacturers, but by the whole of the people of New Zealand. In 18S8 the percentage of imported boots per head of population in New Zealand was .89; in 1907 it was 1.42. Thus every person in New Zealand taking the average was wearing nearly a pair and a half of dutiable boots per year. Eighty per cent of the people were working people and were not loyal to their industries.

After evidence liad. been givo.ii for Ore employers, Alessrs Frostick and Cooper addressed the Court. It was decided that the parties should meet in conference to-morrow morning.