FOOTWEAR TRADES

Evening Star, Issue 23753, 7 December 1940, Page 9

FOOTWEAR TRADES

SHORTAGE OF OPERATIVES THE CALL TO OVERSEAS SERVICE [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, December 6. The urgent need ior training operatives for footwear and allied trades was stressed by Mr H. Edwards, chairmaiiAof the Auckland Footwear Manufacturers’ Association, in supporting appeals affecting 104 men employed by 35 companies before the Auckland Area Manpower Committee to-night. Mr Edwards said that the establishment of training schools had been suggested to th« Government, but so iar nothing bad been done in this respect. As so many men had been called up in industry, the question of staffing was becoming very serious, Mr Edwards said, and until some system of training men unfit for service overseas was instituted appeals would have to be made. Untrained men could not he put on to machines at five minutes’ notice. “ The Government must do something to help us.’’ he added. “ I am hero to substantiate the appeals of various leather and footwear manufacturers.” To the chairman, witness said the association had pursued the question of training schools as far as was possible. It had also considered engaging recently-retired operatives, but witness was satisfied there were only about six in this category available in Auckland. Mr Edwards added that the Government was now requesting the industry to produce its work up to time. Men were working up to 44 hours a week, and employers had to pay time and a half and double time, although their .return remained the same. It was therefore apparent that the employers were doing their best to help the Government. If many more men wee called up, and if the industry was 1o meet the demands upon it, there would have to be an extension of hours m the majority of cases. _ . The committee reserved its decision, brief periods of postponement of service, as requested, being granted in a few cases.