AN AUCKLAND PROTEST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9652, 8 July 1919, Page 5

AN AUCKLAND PROTEST.

AUCKLAND, July 7

The fact that tlic Railway Department is'refusing .r:o 'carry boots and shoes as freight during the restriction period was discussed at a meeting of the Board of Control of the. Boot Industry, comprising lnaniii'actur.ers .and operatives. ' The-.chairman explained; the position,, stating . that in- a .very short'period Boot factories Would • have to close down should the Department's policy be continued. Other manufacturers present spoke in a similar strain. Mr Watts, secretary -to the Boot and Shoe Operatives' Union, strongly unred members of Parliament to do all in their power to procure relief for the trade. In this connection he said it was absurd that' large privately-owned utilities could obtain all the coal they .required, while the- ;-State-Qwh'ed railways were hampered' through lack of it.' Sir Frederick Lane expressed sympathy with the trade in regard to the disabilities quoted. At his suggestion, a telegramsigned by himself and other members of Parliament present was drafted for despatch to the Minister of. Railways. This stated, that at a conference ' with the boot "manufacturers and operatives a. mo6t serious, situation had lte.ciu.disclo.sed: because of: the Department's refusal to c:\rry boots or shoes, and that in a few weeks Auckland factories would be compelled to close, throwing 400 operatives 'out of employment. Tho message strongly nrged reconsideration of the boot f freight restrictions. :.