'ECONOMIC INDUSTRY.'

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 156, 3 July 1936, Page 8

'ECONOMIC INDUSTRY.'

FOOTWEAR MANUFACTURERS. ARBITRATION COURT FINDING. "Reading the judgment of the Court we feel happy in the fact that it admits that we are in a favourable aud buoyant position; therefore, we are an economic industry," commented Mr. E. G. Bridgens, director of an Auckland footwear factory, on the decision of the Arbitration Court to fix a 40-hour week for the industry. The decision, he said, was not unexpected. Mr. Bridgens said that the statement by the employers that there was a labour shortage in the two most vital sections of the trade—clickers and machinists— was substantially correct, but it was felt that this shortage was only temporary. Heavy buying in anticipation of increased prices was taking place at present, but the demand would slacken when retailers had satisfied their requirements, and there would be ample labour available for the trade. Two things remained to be done; firstly that employers and employees should help the Government to carry out its policy, and secondly, that the Government should carry out its promise that an economic industry would be protected from overseas competition.