BOOTMAKERS' STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 95, 25 April 1891, Page 2

BOOTMAKERS' STRIKE.

(To tho Editor)

Sir,—ln answer to your correspondent! of 22nd inst., signed "One of the Trade 1, (who, by the way, is either ashamed to wijrn his namo or lias lost it and equally <so his sense of reason and justieo), i may tell him I know the Federated statement is higher than that tho Manufacturers' Association paid ; but tho Federal statement is a fair one. He said they have not fro'o it—l say it is only their unjustified greediness which kcops them from accepting it. In roforenoe to the remark about the delegates from tho Manufacturers' Association, I say they wero not qualified for the position, and that they took their seats at the Conference, but left when they found they could not get their local cut-throa ,- fad listened to. Their going to Wellington was a farce, from beginning to end, as they know very well that the Conference was to draw up a federated statoment. Thoy were unqualified, inasmuch as they never wont with the inLention of agreeing to a statement that would bo fair and just to all concerned. He proves it by saying they could not bind themselves to it federal statement. This proven thoy wan tod unjust advantages over the other manufacturers and their own workmen. He remarks that if I had any seneo ; I ask, how could he udmit that I have any when he is under a delusion that ho has got them all 1 He needs thorn. Ho omitted to criticise what I said about who drew the high wages. It came too noar his own cace to mention it. Ho 13 one that ib docs not make any difference to whether the men are on half or full timo; he draws hie pay just the same. The Manufacturers' Association try to make out that the mon are beaten; but it is themselves that are beaten, as on Tuesday morning one of the firms that refused to sign the statement before gave in and signed the federated statement. Therefore, the men aro gaining ground. The whole twelve factories together could not produce twelve competent men that they havo taken on sinco the strike commenced.— I am, etc., S. TI. Dawhox.

"Fair Play" writes emphatically repudiating the statemono mado in the lstccr signed by members of the Manufacturers'. Association to tho effect that certain remarks in his letter referred to a former illness which Mr Hodgson suffered from. Hβ says that ho was wholly unaware that Mr Hodgson had boen ill.