THE STRIKE IN THE BOOT TRADE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8531, 3 April 1891, Page 6

THE STRIKE IN THE BOOT TRADE.

TO THE EDITCK. Sir, Has it ever occurred to the boot manufacturers and their independent employees that the wearers of their products should be considered, if not consulted, in making up their little bills of costs? We are informed that at old rates bootmakers can earn from eight to twenty shillings per day; that many are content to work three days per week and loaf the rest of the time; and that very few work a full week unless urged to do so by the employers to get orders out. If this is correct, we, the boot wearers, decidedly object. Most of us have to work long hours, every day in the week, including Sundays, and our earnings do not average more than five shillings per day, with nothing for Sunday to those who necessarily have to do a lot of work on that day. The bootmakers are blessed with comfortable rooms in which to work and good footpaths to walk on, trams to ride in, plenty hotels to get beer in, and every comfort and convenience. We have to work in all weathers, in mud and wet, over bad roads, without any of the conveniences of town life, and yet by a one-sided adjustment of the tariff we are forced to buy boots made by these lords of labour" while at the same time we have to look to England for a market for our produce. We would prefer to have our boots made in the country if they do not cost too much, but we do say that it is not right that we who connot get a return for our labour of more than from three to eight shillings a day, should be compelled to buy boots from those who are not satisfied with less than from three to four times as much per day as we can get. lam not authorised to speak for the numerous body of settlers situated like myself, but amongst farmers, bushmen, gum-diggers, miners and others, there are thousands who are being taxed to enable a few others to live in comparative idleness and affluence in the towns, and I think I may say that we are not disposed to tamely submit to being made use of ill this way much longer. _ If we are not to be considered by these unions of employers and employed in the boot and other trade, we must start a Free Trade Union, so that we may get a chance to buy our boots, etc., from those who buy our produce. Let me, in conclusion, urge all those interested to note well what is going on, or we will find ourselves the victims of rings and combinations by men and masters to such an extent that we will be reduced to the position of slaves, who must either pay through the nose to the local manufacturer for our boots or go barefooted,—l am, etc., Country Settles.