BOOT INDUSTRY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18573, 27 November 1920, Page 8

BOOT INDUSTRY.

DOMINION CONCILIATION PROCEEDINGS. A BOARD OF CONTROL. WAGES AND CLASSIFICATION, rpjcit Fresh Association.] WELLINGTON, November 26. The Dominion Conciliation Council met at Wellington to-dav to discuss wages and conditions in the boot tradeMr W. Newton (Conciliation Commissioner) presided, and the assessors were:—For the employers i Messrs I>. Mapplcbeck (Wellington), J. B. Frame (Dunedin), and H. Clark (Auckland); for the employees: Messrs F. M. Robson (Christchurch). F. Jones (Dunedin) and C. A. Watts (Grey Lynn). At a conference between representatives of the workers and representatives of the New Zealand Boot Manufacturers’ Association an agreement was reached on a number of points, including preference, holidays, time or payment of wages and soope of the new award. The questions of wages and hours were lMt to the Conciliation Council to deal with. An interesting matter upon which employers and workers were in agreement was a scheme for the establishment of a board of control in the industry. The clause relating 'to this board set forth the objects of the institution in the following terms(a) To secure to each member of the employees’ union, where so required, adequate employment so far as possible, and generally to. further tho interests of the boot . industry. To secure tho largest possible measure of joint action between employers and workers for the development or the boot industry, as part of the national life, and improvement of the conditions of all engaged in. the industry, and to consider any disputes that may arise. (b) Collection of statistics ana information in matters appertaining to the industry, including inquiries into special problems of the industry, and study of organisation and methods of industry in this and other countries, and where desirable publication of reports. (c) Issue to the Press of authoritative statements upon matters affecting the industry, and of general interest to the community, if the making of such statements is deemed advisable. ... a (d) Consideration of the issue or under-rate workers’ permits In accordance with clause 12 (a) of the boot operatives’ award. If no agreement is arrived at the matter shall be referred to an independent arbitration to be mutually agreed upon. The board is to consist of representatives of employers and employees. A quorum will be three members on; each side of the board. Discussion of wages was the first business of the Conciliation Oounoil. At the outset difficulty arose over the question of classification, and when the council adjourned at the end of the dav no agreement had been reached. The employers’ representatives contended that the. operations of tho trade should be classified, whereas the employees’ representatives considered that glassification should be according to experience of the worker, . and that after five years’ apprenticeship an em,plovee should receive payment as a skilled worker. The employers submitted that at the present time they were employing skilled, semi-skilled,, and unskilled workers, while the union contended that the employers were trying to take advantage of the dilution of labour in the industry during the war in order to introduce a system of classification that was unfair. The union was prepared to have the inexperionced workers at present employed retained for two years at tho rato of wages of unskilled men. The oounoil will Bit again to-morrow momii\g.