THE CABINET TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8473, 26 January 1891, Page 3

THE CABINET TRADE.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—On behalf of what we deem to-be in the direction of the true interests of the colony, kindly permit the executive of the Cabinetmakers', Upholsterers', and French Polishers' Association to lay before your readers some causes leading up to their formation and operation, as a guidance to those parents who ho.ve the welfare of their offspring and themselves- at heart, and to inform the public generally of the causes of tht deplorable state of the cabinet trade throughout the colony, and Auckland particularly. We write from practical experience extending over many years in London and other metropolises. The present objectionable condition of the trade is caused, to a great extent, by the importation of English manufactured furniture, or so-called furniture, much of which is made in the Curtain Road, in the East End of Loudon, by men and boys who, through complex circumstances, ace obliged to stay in that locality an/1 work for a lower wage and longer hours than those employed in the West End. One causo of the difference in wages and hours is the fact that ths, trade of the West End requires more skilful hands than that of the opposite locality, the name of which is regarded as somewhat of a reproach. The prices paid in the East End, in many instances, would shock or astound the most grasping individual; and hence the difference in the quality and manufacture of the article produced. It would be just as difficult— nay impossible— a West End firm to compete with the East End, as it would be for any European firm to compete with Chinamen. Now, Sir, it is this East End work being imported into this colony, mostly produced by small garret masters and apprentices (who do not serve the time of apprenticeship), and made under starvation prices, that we so bitterly complain of. This kind of work is palmed on the public here as English furniture, which, if known by the trade in England, would cause great indignation thereA few individuals make a good living, and put scores of men and families to poverty and want. These poor people are compelled to hawk their goods, and in many cases finally sell them for less than the cost of the material in order to get something to eat for themselves and families. Unscrupulous dealers take advantage of the position of the makers,,and offer them about the cost of the material the goods contain; makers refuse at first, but, getting late in the day, they are forced to choose a sacrifice to literal starvation. These unprincipled dealers develop export trades with the goods referred to. In order to protect many inhabitants of this colony from being brought to the same degree of degradation as that_ herein referred to, our association are petitioning Parliament to increase the tariff upon imported furniture by ten per cent. ; tor, manifestly, if we purchase those goods we encourage the practice; and in pro* portion that we do so, our own employers, employees, and apprentices must suffer; one result being the forcing of those who would otherwise be employed at their trades into positions which would be better left to those who _ were, and are not fortunate enough to obtain a gumdigfnug and other spheres of unskilled labour—and parents would not be 60 apt to realise, as at present they do, that when the term of apprenticeship of their offspring has expired, the masters can no longer provide employment for them. It ia our object to show that if we would be wealthy we must be employed, otherwise poverty and oppression are inevitable. It ia not necessarily higher wages that we contend for, but employment. We are extremely sensible of the importance of your time and space, and trust we have been ias brief as the occasion permits.We are, etc., Executive of theCabinetmakebs»Ac., Association. Auckland, January 23,1891.