BOOT EMPLOYEES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18143, 8 July 1919, Page 7

BOOT EMPLOYEES.

DISSATISFACTION ON WAGES’ QUESTION. STOP WORK MEETING. In consequence of intense dissatisfaction existing among the boot operatives in Christchurch, owing to the recent decision of the Arbitration Court at Auckland not to grant an increase in wages, a stop-work meeting was hold at the Trades Hall yesterday, at which about 400 members of the Boot Operatives’ Union and the Boot Repairers’ Union were present. A large number of women workers wore also present at the meoting. The meeting was not open to the Press, but Air F. Robson, tlie secretary of the Federation of Boot Employees, informed a reporter after the conclusion of business, that it had been called as a result of tho dissatisfaction which existed owing to the refusal of the Arbitration Court to grant a living wage to the employees. “ The meoting was not inspired by the. executive, but was called at the express desire of the workers themselves,” said Mr Robson, “ The feeling is general throughout New Zealand that the boot employees are not receiving a fair deal, and if the employers cannot agree to an increase iu wages it would bo far better if the industry ceased altogether.” At the present time the operatives are receiving Is 6d an hour for a forty-live hour week, which they state is less than the wages received by ordinary labourers, Boot manufacturing is skilled work, and vet the workers receive Is fid an hour, while at Timaru the general labourers, who are unskilled workers, are receiving; Is 8d per hour. Tho federation hau asked for Is 7Jd an hour and for 2sd an hour bonus, but tho Court had refused to grant the increase, as it considered that the increase in the cost of living did not justify tho demand. The position at present was that with the increased cost of living tho members of the union found it impossible to live on the wages they received, and the opinion was expressed freely that if an increase could not be granted the industry should be stopped altogether. Regarding female workers the present wages were £1 15s per week, and the federation had asked for an increase to £2 a. week. This also had been refused.

The tone of the meeting yesterday was orderly, and it was stated that the men desired to approach the employers in a conciliatory spirit. If these mentis proved unavailing, there seemed a prospect 'of more drastic measures being taken. All of the boot'manufacturing concerns in Christchurch were represented, and there were also a large numher of repairers present from the retail shoos. Tho following resolutions were adopted, the first with two dissentients and the remainder unanimously:-

” That this meeting endorses the resolution passed at the last meeting of the union, calling on the federation to conduct a ballot of the members on the question of cancelling registration under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act.” “ That this mass meeting of members elect three representatives to approach the boot manufacturers of Christchurch with a view to seeking an increase in wages to meet the increased cost of living.” “ That, in the event of the representatives being unable to secure an increase in wages, the executive has power to call another mass meeting at an early date.”

Tho most significant of the resolutions is tho one calling on the executive to conduct, a ballot on the question of seceding from the Arbitration Court, .it was stated that this represents tho feeling of a large body of the trade unionists in Now Zealand, that tho Court has outlived its usefulness, but there are still many who think that tho best policy would be to have the Act amended along favourable lines rather than to cut adrift from it altogether. The position of the boot- trade in New Zealand is in many respects peculiar, stated a member of the union, after the meeting. For some reason it was possible for Australian-made boots to be retailed in New Zealand at tho same prices a 3 those made locjilly, even though the Australian operatives received practically the same wages as those paid in New Zealand, and tho boots were subject to a high protective tariff. There was a fixed duty of Is per pair on all boots and shoes imported into New Zealand and in addition a general tariff of 22} per cent which the Australian manufacturers had to pay, as well as the British manufacturers. Boots imported from America were subject to an additional 10 per cent preferential duty, and yet all these imported boots were able to compete with those locally manufactured. ”Th 6 Government has all along fostered the boot trade,” he continued, “but with the high protective tariff, the employers state that they cannot grant an increase in wages because of the competition of the imported article. There must be something wrong somewhere if this is the case, because it seems extraordinary that tho Australian manufacturers after _ paying a heavy duty can compete with the local manufacturers. If the industry cannot give us a living wage and still exist under its present conditions, then it would perhaps be far better for it to cease altogether and for us to import boots from other countries. By the abolition of the present tariff tho cost of living would be considerably reduced, for it follows that a reduction of 25 per cent in price should naturally ensue', and this would be far better than bolstering up an industry which the country cannot support. It would even pay the Government to pay us to stay away from work if by so doing tho cost of living could be substantially reduced. "Why support an industry when experience has proved that the country is not suitable for it? We operatives could be turned to more profitable channels of employment, but being skilled workers we nave to remain at our trade under the present unsatisfactory conditions.” It is stated also that New Zealand ienther cam be bought cheaper in Australia than it can in New Zealand; that practically all first grade leather i 6 exported from the Dominion, and that the local manufacturers have to depend on second grade leather, which costs them more than manufacturers in other countries have to pay for first grade. Mr B. A. Frostick, of the firm of Skelton, Frostick and Co., Ltd., boot manufacturers, interviewed by _ a reporter, said ho did not wish to make any statement- regarding the matter, beyond pointing out the fact that in November last an agreement was entered into between tbe parties, which was to remain in force two years. Only six months had now passed. The agreement had been entered into at tho Conciliation Council, and the Arbitration Court had simply made it into an award. It was pointed out to Mr Frostick by the reporter that some general labourers received Is 8d per hour, whereas tlie skilled boot operatives’ rate was only Is 6d per hour. Mr Frostick replied that Is 8d was the maximum for general labourers, whereas Is 6d was the minimum for hoot operatives. In his factory, for instance, there were only six men on tho minimum wage, excepting the substituted men employed, who are not experienced bootmakers. When the agreement was entered into, said Mr Frostick, the war bonus was embodied in tho wage, but this apparently did not satisfy the men.