WOOLLEN INDUSTRY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 86, 11 April 1912, Page 8

WOOLLEN INDUSTRY.

EFFECT OF NEW AWARD. NOT LIKELY TO BE SERIOUS. STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN OF LOCAL COMPANY. The main provisions in the award mad© by the Arbitration Court in connection with the industrial dispute between the Petone; Woollen Mills' employee and the Wellington Wcollsn Company were published in Tho Post last evening. To a Pcvt reporter to-day Mr. W. H. P. Barber, chairman of directois of the Wellington Woollen Company, alluding to the award, said :—: — "In my opinion the award just gvanled is unlikely to have- any serious effect on the woollen industry o" the Dominion. Of course, it means in aome instances an increasa of wages, but the exact amount will rcquiie somo close calculation, as the alterations are based on ago and length of service. Nothing like the original demands of the union has been given. Had they been it would certainly have meant a gloomy outlook for tho industry, handicapped at it is by the foreign imports, made, as they are, under totally different conditions, both as to labour and raw material. The Hon. Mr. Millai, when Minister for Customs, repeatedly promised that a "shoddy" Bill would be brought before Parliament, but nothing has been done in that direction. Such a Bill would be of ccntiderable assistance to tho local manufacturers. Tho effect of the awaid will be a wight increase in cost of production, but as it is similar to that of Canterbury, and will most likely be inado to apply to the Dominion, tho mills will all be competing under equal conditions as to wages, hour«« of labour, etc. Tliis increase in cost of production will give the Home and foreign manufacturers some further advantage, but in my opinion the industrial upheaval that is at present taking place throughout the world will affect • the imported goods in a similar degreo. I therefore consider that there is no cauie for uneasiness on the part of those having capital invested in tho wcollen manuiarturiug of New Zealand."

The monthly meeting of tho Yorkshire Society \v?rf hAtf Jabf evening at Ondber's room?. Mr. llarbnltle (vicepresident) presiding. During the evening various ai tides from tho Yorkshire papers were read arirl disruseed. Tbo ' Chairman announced that the society's annual Hinoke 'concert- would be Held "at the next meeting. Tho Kerry Company has "arranged to tend a Bpcutil boat to , Miruniar Wharf for tha opening tif tho football toason. Further iwforniutiuii is ghcii in our udvorfciEiflc cvliuuus.