THE TAILORING TRADE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4733, 15 August 1902, Page 6

THE TAILORING TRADE.

DEPUTATION TO THE HON \V. HALL-JONES. Two deputations representing tlift tailoring industry waited upon the Hon Mr Hali-doncs last night, to put'before him decisions arrived at by tho conference of working tailors and tailoresses and by tho master tailors respectively. . , Tho deputation from tho conference put before the Minister tho resolutions arrived at by tho conference, chief amongst which were requests for the establishment of a State Clothing Fao. tony; for power to bo given to Boards under the Conciliation!Act to bind on yirtics disputing over (say) only two cat of fivo points, the acceptance of tho three points, when tho parties came before tho Arbitration Court for a sctlcment; tho making binding on Auckland of an award subscribed to in tho throe other centres of industry by the unions of masters.

In regard, to the latter, it was urged by the deputation that negotiations with the masters would go on much more smoothly if there was assurance that the terms agreed on would bind masters and men in all four cities.

Tho Minister promised to look into tho matter, and to bring tho recommendations before Cabinet.

Another matter mentioned was that of prosecutions for breaches of the award. The deputation desired to have the “may prosecute” of the Act made mandator} 7 . The Minister told the deputation that it sufficient and reliable evidence to establish a case was brought forward the Inspector worald prosecute; that was his duty. A member of the deputation remarked that the men should not be expected to take active steps in such matters, for to do se would bo to their, detriment.

A deputation, representing small master tailors, desired the Minister to endeavour to have the law amended so that the practice might be stopped of travellers who take “chart” measurements in the country and have these made up in “slop” factories as “tailormade goods.” The deputation pointed out that the easier conditions in factories as to, handling of the garments by different workmen made it impossible for the small tailoft to successfully compete with the factories. A tailor was obliged to have a coat, for instance, made and finished by one man; in a factory that was not so. It was suggested that, as a bar to the practice of factory-made goods being palmed off on country people as tailor-made, an alteration of the law should be given effect to providing that all factory-made goods should bear a tag marked with, the manufacturer’s name, and that heavy penalty should bo inflicted in the case of any person or firm obliterating or removing such tag. The deputation urged that as the factories and the shops worked under different “logs,” this sug. gestion was a perfectly fair one. The Minister—while pointing out that the matter involved was a delicate one, and * one that, if not carefully dealt with, would lead to a great deal 'of trouble —promised to give full consideration to the case" the deputation ; had made out. '