SUITS AND COSTUMES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 13 September 1924, Page 5

SUITS AND COSTUMES

“TAILOR-MADE’’ CONFERENCE '

WIDELY DIVERGENT OPINION

It would ho difficult to imagine a conference with representatives of such divergent views as that convened, by the Minister for Labour in connection with the tailoring' and clothing trade. The Secretary for Labour, Mr Rowley, 'presided, and there were, over 30. delegates present, including two women, to,represent the master tailors, the clothing manufacturers, the working tailors, and the tailoresses and'.tile clothing workeriIn opening the proceedings Mr- Rowley stated that they had been asked by the Minister to meet to consider the question of legislation,,dealing with the tailoring and clothing trade. If ah agreement could he reached it would en ahlo him to decide what legislation was necessary to give, effect' to-their wishes, and even if they could not agree the expert, knowledge obtained by the .conference would enable him to decide how far be could go in. the matter- The department had drawn. up proposals to submit to their consideration, and ho hoped they wouJjJ tender their advice. The following conditions w ; ere, agreed to:-r-"Any. person who sells or agrees, or offers to sell as tailor-made a. garment that is not tailor-made commits, an offence. A garment, gold, offered for sale or described as tailored, partly. Hiaridtailored, tailored, to. order, tailored to measure, partly hand-made, or in 1 any other manner represented to have-been made by hand or tailored; shall for the purposes of this Act . he deemed to. be sold, offered for sale, or described ,a$ tailor-made, unless the contrary .is dearly indicated; A garment shall, not he described a?, lmnd-mado or-har,d?tailored unless it is entirely made by hand. ‘Tai-lor-made’- means a garment'made under the conditions prestiibed by the. arbitration award in force for tailors at. the time. No person, shall label, a, garment ‘tailor-made’ unless it is tailor-made in accordance with these conditions.. ‘Garment’ means a men’s or boy’s coat, trousers, breeches, best- or overcoat pother . than- an oilskin overcoat), or % woman's coat, skirt, or costume;”.-., - r ; 2C * The minimum of Work; perforgied by hand in a tailor-made suit was §et;,out. A number of; proposals 'tOrMbel' suits “tailor-made?’ or '‘factory.-madqA, were rejected, and a Considerable amount of discussion took’place. No. agreement wag reached, and Mr Lewis, on. |>eftalf o the, tailors, stated that. they were prepared. to agree to any compromise decided upon'by. the Minister, provided it protected the public. :In conclusion, the, chaipm a h stated that the Minister waft, strop giy in favour of the system pf : callings all parties together to consider proposed; legislation. So far it had beep;’ fpuhq; io,' be . very satisfactory in clearing' the? ground and enabling-. the’. .Minister;, to a m€a * Sure before. Rarliamem., " .... . !• .