MORE BOOT OPERATIVES.
ESSENTIALS TO THE BOOT INDUSTRY. APPEALS HEARD. The First Auckland Military Service Board yesterday afternoon had two appeals 'by and on behaif of operatives engaged in boot manufacture. Mr. A. Hall Skelton appeared as counsel for the applicants. Wm. E. Oughten (CI) appealed on the ground of occupation, he being a bootcloeing manufacturer, owning a factory working for other factories, and his services were indispensable to it. He ■was also supporting a wife and partially his mother. Appellant said he made the uppers of boots, and had six machines, one being a wax-thread machine. It is to reinforce the lighter stitching, and wae used to do military and heavy boots. 'Mary of the smaller factories had no men to do this work, and got him to do it. Last year he did 17,000 of which 1,000 were military boots. There was only one man in the same position as appellant in Auckland, as the big factories employed their own men. He carried on his business at hi 6 house, assisted by his wife and Miss Watson. He did all the hot wax-work and also, the fitting and heading and the repairing of machines.
Charles A. Watts, secretary of the Boot Operatives' Union, said there were no machinist operatives at present unemployed. He considered that with proper organisation the industry could get along in Auckland with less operatives. Nearly all the machines were now putting in about two hours per day. If full time was worked they could do with half the number of machines. In the ibi'g factories the machines were driven by motive power, but in the small factories they were treadled, co that in the latter the work would be too heavy for women.
iMajor Conlan called Alfred Trenworth, who gave evidence. In reply to the chairman, witness eaid the big factories could do all the heavy work if necessary, although they_ were now working full time.
The Board said it appeared from the evidence that Ougliton iras essential in the work he did. In the interest of the business of manufacturers making boots the appeal was adjourned sine die. DEPARTMENT HEAD MACHINIST. George W. Nicholson, a boot operative, was appealed for 'by the JTew Zealand Boot Company, a member of the Second Division. He was in charge of the heeling department of the factory, where there were 40 hands. He worked the lightning heeler and slugging ■machines, and every boot had to pass through his hands. He had to have a tfiorough knowledge of machines and aji expert knowledge in the "placing" of heels. He had been working overtime to keep up with the work. He had -eight years on a slower machine before taking on 4 the machines he now worked, on whfch'ibachinee Tie ifras six months before becoming efficient.
Major Conlan put in a report from the Labour Department, ■which said it understood JSfieholeon was one of the most valued employees, and his removal would 'be a big 4oss to the firm, which •would have to reorganise ite staff.
The Board, after hearing Mr. T. E. Trenwith as an expert, and Mr. E. J. Osborne, manager of the appellant company, said it would consider its decision.
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Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 45, 21 February 1918, Page 4
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534MORE BOOT OPERATIVES. Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 45, 21 February 1918, Page 4
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