THE BOOT STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8530, 2 April 1891, Page 6

THE BOOT STRIKE.

Mb. J. M. Shera, M.H.R., received a letter on Tuesday from the secretary of the Operative Bootmakers' Union requesting him to receive a deputation from the union. The object of the deputation, it was stated, was to lay before him a statement of their case, and such explanations as they might deem necessary or he might desire on the causes of the present rupture with the employers. The meeting took place last evening at Robson's Kooms. The deputation to Mr. Shera consisted of Messrs. C. B. King (President of the Union), Harding (Secretary), Hatfield, and Browett (a delegate from Wellington). Mr. Shera said he had pleasure in receiving the deputation, but regretted that they should have to come for such a cause as a strike. He regarded strikes as injurious to the community generally, more especially to working-men, and should be avoided as much as possible. Nothing but absolute necessity could justify it. Even if a strike did come, it was desirable to end it speedily before the. community suffered severely. Mr. Shera read the following letter he had received from the secretary of the Auckland Employers' Association :—

Auckland, April 1, 1891. J. M. Shera, Esq., M.H.R. Dear Sir,— Observing in today's Herald a notice that the operative bootmakers were going to lay their grievance before yon to-night, I thought it would be opportune to inform you that the Auckland Employers' Association is most anxious to get the existing dispute in the boot trade speedily, amicably, and satisfactorily settled. Communication is being carried on at present with various bodies to that end, and I am authorised to say that the manufacturers are quite prepared to acquiesce in any fair settlement arrived at by a joint committee of members of the Employers' Association, the Trades and Labour Council, the Knights of Labour, and the operative bootmakers. For several weeks we have been engaged formulating rule 3 for a Board of Conciliation for the express purpose of settling such disputes as the one in question, and it is only because the Trades and Labour Council nave not been able to get replies from all their bodies, that the organisation is not complete. As a dispute like the existing one would, if prolonged, seriously affect the local boot trade, and about a thousand operatives and their relatives, I can assure you that no efforts on our part will be spared to restore and secure industrial peace.—l am, etc., F. G. Ewington, Secretary Employers' Association.

The deputation said that the Employers' Association had already pronounced an opinion on the question in dispute, on ex parte evidence, and therefore was not in a position to talk about arbitration. The federated statement now before the public was practically the outcome of arbitration, as it was the result of a conference in which masters and men were represented. They would decline to submit the matter to arbitration.

Mr. Kino said that the wages were some years ago low in Auckland on account of the inferior workmanship, but during the last few years ib was quite equal to that of the Southern operatives. Although the quality of the work turned out had gone up, wages had nob. The federated operative bootmakers of the colony then drew up a " statement,'' which was not agreeable to the manufacturers, and after mature deliberation a conference was arranged for at Wellington by the masters ana men. It was decided to draw up a uniform statement for the colony. The Auckland delegates of the manufacturers first agreed to take part in the conference, and thee withdrew, because the conference woulu not discuss a local " statement" for Auckland. It was not correct that the work in Auckland was inferior to that in the South. There was rough work here, and also work in the South, bub he had seen the work from here to Dunedin, and as good work was ned out here as that in the South.

Mr. Browett concurred in this statement.

In reply to questions by Mr. Shera, Mr. Harding said that there were about 200 men on strike, and they had a federated fund of £1600. A levy would be made on the Union. Single men would get £1 and married men £2 a week, with Is a week for each child.

A lengthy discussion ensued on the statement, which was explained in detail to Mr. Shera. It was pointed out that some of the items in the leading line of work on which fancy rates of wages were named, there were not half-a-dozen pair of boots made in the year ; that on the leading line generally, a man working month in and month out with no lost time, would only earn £2 10s, and on mixed work would not average all the year round £2 per week. If the Southern manufacturers could pay the rate and prosper, there was no reason why the Auckland manufacturers could not do the same. As to the rules prohibiting a master from having two sons in his business as was alleged, that was incorrect. Under the rules he would not have two sons as apprentices in one department, but he would have a son in each of the six departments, and as many as he liked in his office. Mr. Shkra suggested that they should still try arbitration. He would say let the union appoint two men, and the Manufacturers Association a like number, and let them jointly select one or three other men to settle the whole matter. At all events he had now heard their side of the question. He would make it his duty to see the manufacturers and hear their version, after which he would be in a position to do what he could to effect a peaceful settlement. The deputation thanked Mr. Shera for his courtesy, and said they would report the result of the interview to the Union, which would meet that night at a later hour.

meeting OF THE union. A meeting of the Operative Bootmakers' Union was held last evening at Wesley Hall. Mr. C. B. King presided. There was a large attendance. The deputation reported the result of their interview with Mr. Shera, but nothing further was done in the matter. General correspondence ' was read from the South, among the documents being tx letter from the secretary of the Federated Union. He stated that the Federated Union would be prepared to maintain the men on strike for a twelvemonth if necessary, and that men coming South would receive work from the Southern manufacturers, who were in sympathy with the union in their quarrel. It wa3 stated that the Auckland Boot Manufacturers Association was not merely fighting the men, but it was in reality the union and the Southern manufacturers against the Auckland manufacturers. The Auckland goods had been pushing the Southerners in their own markets, and theresuit was slackness of trade there, and either wages must come down in the South or go upln the North, as the result of the commercial competition. There are 200 men already on strike, and a number more are expected out on Saturday. A number of the men have already left for the South, where arrangements are being made to find them work. It is the intention of the Union to call in the paybooks of members and give the average wage? of the average workmen in the several departments in the various leading factories of the city during the past six months, and this will be far more convincing as to the merits of the dispute than a lengthy controversy.

BOOT manufacturers' ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the Auckland Boot Manufacturers' Association was held last evening in Robson's Rooms, and was largely attended. After a general discussion, it was decided to remain passive, and leave the matter in the hands of the Employers' Association, which was moving in the direction of arbitration.

The concert and social given in the Panmure Hall, on Monday last, proved very successful. Monsignor McDonald, who attended for a short time the concert at the Oddfellows' Hall, Howick, in aid of the Howick and Pakuianga Fife and Drum Band, returned to the Panmure Hall, at ten p.m., his presence affording very great pleasure to one and all. The following programme was gone through during the evening, many of the items being favoured with encores: — Overture, Mrs. Hogan ; song, "I Saw from the Beach," Miss Bright; song, " Some Day I Wander Back Again," Mr. Keating ; song, selected, Mrs. Badeley: song, "The Maid of the Mill," Mr. Hogan; son's;, "Kathleen Mavourneen," Miss Hogan ; song, Mr. Hannkens; clarionete solo, Mr. Bachelor; solo, "The King's Own," Mr. Keating; vocal duet, " The Cousins," Miss and Mr. Hogan; song, "The Bogie Man," Mr. Hogan ; .song, " Twelve Months Ago," Mr. Bachelor.