BOOT MANUFACTURERS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16270, 22 July 1918, Page 4

BOOT MANUFACTURERS.

EMPLOYMENT OF RETURNED MEN. Boot manufacturers of Auckland, who have been more or less in the limelight since the Military Service Boards commenced work, were the subject of a thrust during proceedings oefore the First Auckland Board on Friday. (says the "Star"). Exemption was sought by A r th ur Brain, employed as a boot machinist by W. S. Moore, boon manufacturer, Onehunga. Mr Watt, secretary of the _ Boot Operatives' Union, tendered evidence. Major Conlan' asked whether it was not a position which returned men could bo trained to fill. "Our roturns show that the boot manfacturers arc not partial to returned soldiers," saul witness, "although provision has been made for their employment in the trade. Our men have no objection to teaching them, but the returned men don't get the. opportunity or inducement from tho employers. There aro quite a number of machines that could be handled by the returned soldiers, but the positions are not made attractive. The manufacturers are not prepared to pay them a decent wage, and it does not seem right. The trouble is when returned men aro taken on a permit has to be obtained, and the most they can get from the employers is £2 5s per week." Mr Pine: Rather rough on the returned soldier who has been fighting for and. defending tho manufacturers. Mr Watt explained the sort of work on which returned men were placed. Mr Pine : The returned SQldier is not going to work for loss wages when he nas to keep the tail end of the work going. Mr Duthie: Yes; that is what Mr Watt means. Mr Watt explained that, of course, the Government subsidised the wages of men employed up to £3 or thereabouts, but he did not consider that this subsidy should be used by the.employers, as' the principle was wrong. The chairman agreed and said that by that the employer was profiting at the expense of the State, although the subsidy was a service to the returned men. Mr Pine: That's nothing, anyway. The Government gets it back by taxation. Counsel said it appeared to him that if the boot manufacturers could not pay proper wages now they never could do so. The Board decided to adjourn the case sine die, and requested Mr Watt to notify it if he know of the possibility of appellant being replaced.