CLOTHING TRADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23015, 18 April 1938, Page 11

CLOTHING TRADE

REPORTED DISMISSALS POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH STATEMENT BY FEDERATION [BY TELEGBAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Saturday The following statement was made to-day by Mr. J. Roberts, of Christchurch, secretary of the New Zealand Clothing Trades Federation, in reply to a Christchurch report regarding dismissals from the clothing trade: —■ "As one who lias intimate knowledge of the industry in Christchurch, I wish j to describe the Press Association report as a wicked misstatement and pure fiction. It has apparently been inspired for the dual purpose, firstly, to try to influence the Court of Arbitration in respect of the clothing trades dispute which is before it, and, secondly, to try to stampede the Government to give added protection to the industry. Shortage of Workers "When 1 left Christchurch a few days ago the only workers out of work that 1 knew of were three frock machinists, and I had secured positions for them to start after the Easter holidays. Not one single male worker had. been dismissed. i challenge those responsible for the Press Association message to name one married man under any of our clothing trade awards who has been dismissed. As a matter of fact, there is a pronounced shortage of workers in some sections of the clothing industry. It is impossible to secure coat machin ists and coat hands in Christchurch, and the same applies to Wellington. While I have been in Wellington, one clothing factory has approached me asking if I could secure clothing workers from Christchurch. I have had to reply that there are none available. Dunedin Position " The Press Association message emanating from Dunedin clothing manufacturers, advising that there have been few, if any, dismissals, conveys a true picture of the position of the industry in Dunedin. The manufacturers are to be congratulated on their very fair statement and on the fact that they did not resort to misstatements for propaganda purposes. Finally, 1 wish to say that the statement from Christchurch will not be helpful to the manufacturers when they wait upon the Government seeking revision of the United Kingdom tariff. Our own federation will be waiting upon the Government to state the true position of the New Zealand clothing industry."