CLOTHING TRADE DISPUTE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13519, 16 February 1906, Page 5

CLOTHING TRADE DISPUTE

FURTHER REFERENCE TO THE ARBITRATION COURT. Twelve tailoresses leave Dunedin on Tuesday next for Wellington. Mr W. Hood, president of the Tailoresses' Union, informs us that, last week he waited upon Mr Isaacs, president of the Clothing jViniiufaulurers' .Association, and suggested that the parties should have a conference, with a viow to arriving, if possible, at an amicablo solution of the difficulty. Mr Isaacs, however, did not see his way to agreo lo Hip suggestion. holding' that no good would result from it. Mr Lomas, Inspector of Factories, and Mr Hally, assistant. inspector, have completed their report on the present position of affairs and forwarded it to the Minister of Labour. In addition to interviows with factory managers, Messrs Lomas and Hally waited upon Mr Hood, president, of the Tailoresses' Union, and Mr W. Scott, secretary of the Employers' Association. Our attention has been drawn to the fact that Mr 11. J. Bcswick, who was appointed by the Arbitration Court to adjust the uiider-inte payments in Christclmrch under the tailoresses' award, concluded his work on Tuesday, when ho granted 57 permits to work for less than the minimum wage, and refused 0110 application. Altogether lie has considered 95 applications, granting 00 and refusing five. No difficulty of importance has arisen under the award in Christchurch. * , The Dunedin manufacturers contend that the condition of things in Chrislchurch bears out the view that they have taken in connection with the award. The clothipg manufacturers and the Tailoresses' Union yesterday filed with the Clerk or Awards a reference asking that the clothing manufacturers and tailoresses of Auckland be made parties to the award which lias just been' given covering the industrial districts of Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago and Southland, with a request that the application bo heard at the ensuing sittings of the court in Auckland towards the ond of March.