THE BOOTMAKERS' DIFFICULTY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 72, 26 March 1891, Page 4

THE BOOTMAKERS' DIFFICULTY.

The difficulty botween the boot operative and their employers is intensifying, there is ab presenb every indication of an immediate strike with all its deplorable consequences. These are not difficult to foresee. The boot trade has assumed large proportions in Auckland, and any stoppage at the present time must inevitably exercise a destructive effect on trade, and in this way entail financial loss on the employers. On the other hand, the sudden stoppage of the weo&ly wages for an indefinite period cannot fail to bring hardship and misery to the families who are out on strike. Such a stoppage of trade would be farreaching in its effects, and in many ways would be a positive loss to the whole community. In view of these facts, it is to be hoped the good judgment of the leaders of the labour movement in Auckland will prompt them to exert themselves instantly to prevent the operatives from being withdrawn from the factories until every possibility of securing a settlement has been exhausted. It is true that meetings have been held by both parties to the dispute, and that, they have failed to come to any settlement. But where they have failed, other people, by the exorcise of forbearance and tact, may succeed, aud what cannot be considered anything short of a calamity to the trade of the city averted. Auckland has not yet recovered from the loss sustained by the last strike of a similar character, which, beyond doubt, enabled the ' South to take from us a large proportion of a trade which prior to that time was almost exclusively our own, and there are many people who believe that the Southern employers are not altogether disinterested in the present dispute. Be this as it may, the arguments in favour of referring the dispute t_ arbitration are manifold. Efforts have recently been made here in the direction of establishing a Board of Conciliation, and it would be a very graceful and at the same time sensible act on the part of those concerned to refer the matters in dispute to their adjudication. The labour legislation of next session will be in the direction of establishing Boards of this character, and if the principle is good, it

should be applied in the present case. It the meantime, it is sincerely to be hoped the operatives will remain at their work. There is time enough to strike if the efiorts in the direction of conciliation and arbitration are barren of result.