THE DRAPERY TRADE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18220, 7 October 1919, Page 6

THE DRAPERY TRADE.

BOARD OF TRADE AND UNION. Mr R. D. Martin, secretary of the Christchurch Shop Assistants’ Union, has received the following communication from Mr J. W. Collins, secretary of the Board of Trade: — "It has been brought - under the notice of tho Board of Trade that during tho recent sitting of the Arbitration Court you mentioned that a spirit of dissatisfaction existed among drapery employees, regarding the gradual increases made in the prices of materials, whilo there was no proportionate rise in wages. You instanced the landing charges of certain goods, and quoted the retail prices actually charged. r llie board notes from the Christchurch newspapers of September 2G that you mado a statement with respect to colonial tweeds, which cost 9s per yard, and which were ultimately sold at 31s 6d. The report before the board shows that Mr J ustico Stringer suggested that these were cases which you should bring before the Board of Trade. The board has waited to hear from you, but up to tho present has had no communication. , Will you please inform mo whether it is your intention to proceed with the matter? I might add that under the existing law the proofs required to establish a case of profiteering are somewhat difficult. If you followed tho case recently heard before the Court in Wellington you will no doubt realise that proofs aro necessary before tho hoard could succeed.” Mr Martin states that ho intends to communicate with the Board of Trade, offering to meet tho hoard either in Wellington or in Christchurch.