SUPPLY OF UNIFORMS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2510, 10 July 1915, Page 10

SUPPLY OF UNIFORMS

. LARGE CONTRACTS w A PROTEST FROM TAILORS

'A deputation from the Shop Tailors' Federation of New Zealand waited upon the Minister of Defence (tho Hon. J. Allen) last night,_ consisting* of tho Hon. J. T. Paul, president of the Federated Factory Tailoressos, and Messrs. W. AVatorworth, secretary of the Wellington Tailors' Union, and F. Cook, secretary of'tlio Christchurch Tailors' Union. Mr. J. M'Combs, Christchurch, introduced tho deputation, and said tho members camo with a request that some of the work now being sent out by the Dofence Department Should be given out to the "bespoke" tailors, otherwiso rotail tailoring establishments. : Mr._ Cook said, that since the war tho tailoring trade had; been in a very deplorable state. Many of their customers had been tho "dressy" young fellows, who were the first to answer the call,, and their trade had been-lost to the tailors. Ho understood that Mr. Levy,' of Wellington, had got a largo contract for tho military uniforms, and was sub-contracting. What they wanted was a proportionate, sharo of the work for their trade, as against tho factory trade. Of course, the question or expense would bo submitted, out the men would receive'bettor" uniforms, and ;a thousand pounds moro or less'would not ajfcct tho country " jtist now, and if it was spent in wages it would-be in a.good causes -Ho had visited Timaru and A'shhurton, and tlio employers thero had asked him to assist them.' He' irnderstood they-Vero going, to. make somo representation, to', the Minister.- :'fhey thought that at least the master tailors should -have had the-officers' -uniforms from "\the very first.. r " a 'i rwor "- 1 . sa 'd that 'what accentuated_tho_i>ositioii so much -was the fact'that Mr. : Levy.]iad got such a : kirge contract. ■ The Factory Act had . been suspended bo that ho could' work ? liis employees any hours, • even on Saturday night and Sunday; On top' of that, not satisfied to get the whole of tlio: Territorial uniforms, ho advertised; special concessions to "officers. "Mr, \V atorworth pointed' out that lie "had thirteen' or fourteen men .oirtho hooks out of work, and tho majority of tho 160 members of the union wcro working making about 30s.'a week, oh which to 'support wife and family. Tho Hon. J. T. Paul thought that something should be dono to help unemployment in the south. Ho_ understood that factory"girls hero were overworked/till they wero "done up," and threatened not to work further overtime, while there were girls 'in the south who could not |;ot enough work. The trouble, he thought, was the large contract placed in ono man's hands. He understood it was not the fault of the Governmentthe contract wa:s let before tlio war broke . out, but the war multiplied /the position- tremendously. •'I want you, if you can, to inquire into the matter, ' and see if the work can be more equitably distributed." , Mr. Allon, in roply, isaid tiat lie was sorry to hear that there were any tailors out of work, and ho requested that statistical information should be given him of those out of . work, and those partially Employed,- so they would know what thoy had to faco. As regarded the officers' uuiforms, tho Department had no control over them, and if Mr. Levy was offering special attractions he did not see how they could - Mr. Waterworfli: By curtailing overtime.

Mi'. Allen said, that it was true that Mr. Levy had got a,big contract, but lie (Mr. Allen) did' not know that lie sub-contracted. Tho Department itsolf contracted with a factory at Mr. Levy's prioe. ■ They wero getting tlioir supply, of uniforms built up, and were'getting' a little ahead now. He knew that tho Factory Aot was suspended at first, but did not'know that it was still suspended to allow overtime. Mr." Waterworth: They, are working overtime' now. Mr. Allen: "We don't want some working overtimo and somo not at all." The initial difficulty in allotting certain amounts out was one of' expense. If they could devise a scheme whero by combination ' thoy could produce at the somo price, ho would bo glad to Kelp them. He suggested they should talk the matter over with the QuartermasterGeneral, and if they could devise a Bchemo, put it before him. . Mr. M'Combs suggested that there would ..be no difficulty if the men agreed to pay tho difference for a better uniform. ; .' . j\lr. Allon: -I don't' -seo any objections, but tho members of the force might see it-. Mr. Coolc Suggested that the Government might put pressure on the factories to make tliom supply cloth if the tailors got any; work for uniforms. .: - . Mr. Allen:' If you will talk these ■Hiings over with tho Quartefmaster-Gc-neral, I will see h'm aftorwardg. The deputation than withdrew*