THE BOOT MANUFACTURING TRADE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13934, 16 December 1905, Page 14

THE BOOT MANUFACTURING TRADE.

THE POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND. CAPITAL AND LABOUR IN AGREEMENT. [Contributed.} It may be of some interest to your readers to know what the now award for the boot trade really means. It will be noticed that for a second time the award is nothing more than a confirmation by the Court of an agreement mitered into between the Federation of Employers and the Federated Unions jf Workmen. This must surely be an 'evidence of moderation on both sides, " and is a striking contrast to the policy adopted by the parties in past yeans. jSo doubt great differences of opinion exist respecting the ethics of the Arbifcration Act, but the Boot Trad© is perhaps the most striking illustration of the practicability of applying the principles of compulsory arbitration in place of the brutal methods of strike or lockout. Prior to 1891, the trade was scarcely ever free from trouble. Demands were made at all sorts of inconvenient times, and the policy was yield or force a strike. The position became so serious' that in 1891 the employers united and met the unions on level grounds. This resulted in. a statement t>f wages and conditions of labour bemg - adopted, and as both sides were somewhat doubtful of the strength of their opponents, a period of armed peace tolBut immediately on the passing of the Arbitration Act this trade was one of the first involved in a dispute. Both sides fought for what they believed to be their own interests, and the first award was made by Mr Justice Williams ; and for two years both parties worked dissatisfied. The whole question was reopened on the first opportunity under Mr Justice Edwards, neither party being satisfied with the award. For the third tima the whole position was laid ’ .before the Court, under Mr Justice Cooper, and it is from this date that mutual confidence and respect was first really established; and this was in no small degree due to the tact and oour- • tesy of the Judge. At this hearing,. the [ employers suggested the abolition of the , piece-work system, and made proposals ' which the Judge strongly advised the Union to cousideh favourably. This ad’vice was accepted, and a new era commenced for the Boot Trade, and it is the opinion of experts that had the wages system been adopted eight or ten ’ years earlier, the Boot trade would have been one of the most flourishing of cut industries. Unfortunately, the foreign manufacturer had obtained a firm footing, to which he is still holding most tenaciously. _ .• But to jresume the history. At the expiration of Mr Justice Cooper’s award, the parties agreed to meet _ to- , gether and review the whole position, with the result that the Court wals asked simply to give effect to an agreement which had been entered into. The period of that award expired a , few weeks since, and although the first conference was abortive, a smaller number ■of representatives subsequently met and entered into a further agreement, on behalf of their respective organisations, •which agreement has been made an award and comes into operation on January 1 next. The details of the award may not he

-of special;public interest, but several * important principles are established, which should not be overlooked.' First, the general principle of trade organisation is admitted. The Unions have recog- • nised the Employers’ Federation to have full benefit of the preference .clauses. At the same time 'no workman can be deprived of his employment if .he is willing to work under the conditions which apply to his fellow-workmen. Second, the Union disclaims any right to interfere with the "methods or management or control. Having sold their labour to their employer, they admit the nght of the employer to apply that labour as he deems best for the conduct of his businessv, Third, a very important; principle has been established in the discrimination between skilled and unskilled workers. The Bootmakers’ Union is now recognised as a Union of Experts, and it will be no longer possible for the inferior and unskilled workman to shield his incapacity under the Union at his employer’s expense. The minimum wage has been raised, andif the co-operation of the workmen and employers is complete, the trade will soon be one eagerly sought for by the young artisan of the colony. Fourth, the establishment of an hourly wag© is intended to add to the dignity and independence of the workman. He feels that, being paid only for services rendered, he can claim daily the full value of his labour. He does not wish his em- < plqyer to secretly keep back a part of his earnings in order that it may be doled out to him in the shape of payment for holidays or for time not worked. He earns a shilling and receives his full wage, which in the end must ; -be the most satisfactory to all the parties. Fifth, the trade has dealt in a conmonsense way with the apprentice question. In one department, which is a 1! hand labour, apprenticeship is considered necessary; but in all the specialised branches, freedom of worker is established. Operations which may he quickly learned can command-the full wage when the operator becomes expert. This is adopting the most approved ideas. It is very satisfactory to note the expressed _ satisfaction or the Workers’ Federation with the payment according to merit. They admit that this; prin- . ciple has been maintained, and they also urge upon the members of their Federa<s tion the adoption of the same rule in their daily work by using their best intelligence and industry to qualify for the .highest wage it is possible to command.