THE WAGES OF BOOTMAKERS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 124, 26 May 1911, Page 6

THE WAGES OF BOOTMAKERS.

(To the Editor.) I Sir, —At last meeting of Auckland Trades and labour Council it was resolved that the following facts be forwarded to "Star" and other papers in New Zealand and Australia:—"Some little time ago (about the end of March.) the Bootmakers' l£mployers' Association met the Operative Bootmakers' Union Federation at the Chamber of Commerce, Auckland, to discuss the question of tlie alleged shortage in woman operatives. It was asserted by the employers that there was a scarcity of female labour; the Union's contention was that there was any quantity of labour available if sufficient wages and steadiness of employment were offered. In criticising this, Mr. Coles, a boot manufacturer of this city, was reported as having stated that the wages argument was without foundation, and quoted in proof thereof that a man whom he had employed had saved £300 in five years on a wage of £2 7/6, the man being married and paying rent. Challenged through the Star , by the Trade 3 and Labour Council, Mr. Coles answered publicly that he was prepared to meet them at' any time for the purpose of proving Ms assertions. As the statement had been widely circulated and quoted as evidence of the prosperous condition of boot operatives, the Council decided to send a deputation to receive Mr. Coles' proof. Interviewed on Tuesday, Jlr. Coles, after some hesitancy, said that the matter had been misrepresented and that he could not substantiate his assertion. The Council, therefore, respectfully asks that this be made public in order that the one,at any rate, of the misstatements, by which men are enticed here to overfiood the labour market, may be shown in all its falsity.— I am, etc.,

W. S. MOXSOM, See. (Per T. WALSH.) Secretary of the Trades and Labour CounciL