THE BOOT TRADE TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 406, 15 January 1909, Page 6

THE BOOT TRADE TROUBLE.

MANIFESTO BY EMPLOYERS.

(BITELBOUiriI—PRESS ASSOCIATibSf.I • ' ~ . Christchurch, January 14.

The'boot..manufacturers have . issued - a lengthy manifesto in 'rejly to.resolutions ar- ■ rived at by 'the Executive Federated Boot Trade rjnibn. The manifesto indudesthe'writ.-.•'; tenreply sent to the union's, demands; .and states.that the' manufacturers did.not "dnticU Jiafe. htty demands for a material increase iil wages o> ahy. reduction's!- tlie .hdiifs: of .late : our. The geiioral. cohditiohsbf ; labour, have : BteiV ainencl&l. from tiifio tb-time, aiidj in tlie opinion bf manufacturers s are now. sumV eieiit to meet thfe of thii trrmtli justib'e.bn boill Sides-. ■' .' ' ■.-'■:<■■ On the question, bf \vageSj tile Wofkmeti'B federation jlaye;" admitted (continues the- \- ply) tliat employers during the past, few.yeafa ' liaVe jiaia ■ theit wbrknieii according to in= ; . Uivulual ififerii: There is lib evidence to show t&at'ahy attempt has beeii niade to conduct tn6 business bf übtji iniiriufacttifing strictljr within the. Jiinits of thVold awiird. On the'■".•■ cdjltrary) the frages of workmen have been .increased considerably during" the last award pertb'd: ..The present, demands for increased . M; and. tnfe reau'ction of-hburs fof those > braflclie's -previously , , i'abluded in the award -, I■■ ah\(Mt to over, thirty-f duf per: dent. - iijiod J the amdiiiit provided for., hi the old attafd) ,aiidj iii addition;to thisj it is.sought.to-in- ". elude all unskilled workers- at tho.t'prtes; This r together frith the ilbolitibli of the im' provefs clause;'vroiild result.ultimately.in absoMM r'tiiii of-the industry.; - '■ -':■■ ,': .6iaie-. : :b6ol fact&rig.s and the .. abßlitißli ofthe. duty on imported boots and' .shoes, the manifestb states that the inahiK f afituferS :.ebrisidbr tliatj : if Neither .prbpbsaL; would, be for the public good, it nuist be.seeil. a)fombst:inc6iisist6Ht oiie #ith thiS:OtHef:. If freS trade is estaMished m : b6btß.' : aUd slibes: State- fafitofjes .'cotnd hot :reinaiiiopeii ;ih Competition AVith 'the wh'old .'wbrldj- , and the men and'women now engaged iiithi ': industry in thS'D6minion woUld have to B§ek- ; ather etapldymeiifc. ■'-.-:■ ' ' .' .; :- , pealihg .Tyilli : th| Workmen's Fefeatibn'e ' resbliltioni it js .asKed:—(l) Have. manufac- ' turirs. refused to. ■ eßnc§de a■. failf- rale": tt ".-.' wages?.gjia (2). Hay§ they rfefUsldto Via© decent conditions of empl'oyiflent for the : workers, connecled with the trade? Eep'lying t'6 tlio-fifKi-it ispbintedoufciliat) wlieri'thej aWard'exjJifed a cohfefellce of; both: parties agreeS to its eperisibn Withoutiltefas ■ lion for two yeafe-.. Al the.expiration. of'tliai ' period the parties; again metj; when Kb inatefial altgfatiWs wereinidein tlie cenditions ' 6f iSbWr; and; at, the request, tii Hiefthiibnj' \ .the agreement 'was eStehdfe'd fbf':three. -.jisirSi.'--Oil thi§ liist-fnentibhe'd bccasie'uj ainempfahi . dura whs Sent t&.b'dtil pairtieaj vrMcli;stated.,: thai it was understood that the' Bootmakers'' Federatiah did riot 'ask for an-advance' in' the/wag&s.;of jvoflimfen-.-.who, Vat' the ,time'', of li|hini. the industrial agreeinijntj were In.. fecßipt of lSi per" Wai or dvei-j 'except as< in tlie.bgifiibh ,8f eiJiplojii-Si their- niefii justly deniahded:. Oh th6'questibn bf/cb'nditiShss the . emplbyefS had stated tllfeif wifliuiiiesg to &i-ee^t-a-rfeliSwal 8f the laet a*afdj and these' rcbiiditibhs w6fe idetitiidal which had ; tWlee:uii&ii£dioiißiy''-ftebfeft!iea--;i>3r-";tli^--in?. ; .;. terested;parties; ■. ffbbably inbfe, than 80 ■per' cent. ,Bf -the .'men.■ einployed: uhdef :the ' ■ miitni .afld wages.ril'ngea-up:tb 80s) per weeki ■ aiid this not to.fbr'embli. ';/-:■-.

: .th6.iafthifeitb,statesi i:i ''Mbatti 'fabttitetiS : :chftl!efige flif-'old'slst Jn'refetigatioii by proper': aiithdfitK>B. iu , the. ; public interest). bbtfi- with' regard to the ebnditiblis .Of labdui afyd also with regard to-the net resiiita' it manufacturers arising but of the iMii&tfy ; "