SADDLERY TRADE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 258, 28 July 1936, Page 2

SADDLERY TRADE

Effect of the Passing of the Horse ONE RESULT OF THE SLUMP The displacement of the horse by the motor-vehicle and the tractor taking its place on the roads and farms, and its effect on the saddlery trade, was referred to in the Arbitration Court, Wellington, yesterday, when application for an extension of hours to 44 a week was made on behalf of saddlers, harness and collar-makers. It was stated that there had been during the past two years an increased demand for saddlery, owing to farmers replacing old harness by new. His Honour Mr. Justice Page presided, and associated with him on the Bench were Mr. AV. Cecil Prime (employers’ representative) and Mr. A. L. Monteith (workers’ representative). Mr. AV. E. Anderson appeared for the employers and Air. J. Tucker for the workers. Mr. Anderson said that non-availa-bility of labout, increased costs and local competition were the reasons for the application. During the depression years and as a result of the displacement of the horse by motor transport, many skilled tradesmen had left the saddlery trade for other avenues of employment. Since 1933 there had been a revival in the industry, and the present makers of saddlery goods were obliged to work the maximum overtime to cope with the demand. From 1930 to 1932 farmers were passing through difficult times and did not invest in new harness, but since things had brightened up- a bit they had been buying new’ equipment. Mr. Prime: The horse is coming back on the farm?

Mr. Anderson: 1 would not say that. There might be an increase in the use of horses, but the main reason is that the farmers are now replacing their old harness.

Every endeavour, said Mr. Anderson, had been made to obtain skilled labour, but tradesmen who had left the saddlery trade could not be attracted back. Machinery processes in the manufacture of saddlery were negligible, and the greater part of the work was done by hand. There had been a serious delay in the execution of orders, and the curtailment of hours would restrict the output of saddlery commodities necessary to the fanning community. Manufacturers had been precluded from obtaining apprentices owing to restrictions on the number of apprentices to journeymen. Many people looked upon the saddlery trade ns a dying industry, and it was consequently difficult to attract boys to take up the trade. Although there had been a revival in the industry the trade was still suffering from the effects of the slump. Evidence as-to conditions in the saddlery trade, was given by Air. W. Newsham, secretary of J. Wiseman and Sons, Ltd., Auckland. Air. Tucker: Do you think there are more horses now than there were 12 months ago? Mr. Newsham: I have reason to think there arc a few, but that Is not the principal reason for the present demands for saddlery and harness. Air. Tucker said the Wellington manufacturers were not objecting to the 40-hour week. The application had been engineered from Auckland. If there was a scarcity of labour the employers themselves were to blame. There was no scarcity of saddlers in the Wellington district. The court reserved its decision.