ARBITRATION COURT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19255, 20 August 1924, Page 5

ARBITRATION COURT.

THE APPRENTICES ACT. MASTER TAILORS’ GRIEVANCE. (Pbb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 19. The Arbitration Court was 1 engaged today hearing a number of applications arising out of the Apprentices Act of last session. Mr Grenfell, for the employers, said that the Master Tailors’ Association had agreed to an order concerning the trade, but they decided that such order, or a someiwhat similar one, should apply to tho other branch of the trade. This was a matter of serious moment to bespoke tailors. Mr Justice Frazer said ho did not see how the court could make similar provision as to apprentices in the factory-made suit trade as would bo made in the bespoke tailoring trade. David Milligan, master tailor, s.aid there were a number of firms making and disposing of what were really factory-made suite. These suits were being sold as tailormade, and the master tailors complained of unequal conditions. Certain firms were registering under the wholesale manufacturers’ award, which allowed them to have a certain amount of apprentice labour, while master tailors were restricted to one apprentice to three adults, so that other firms could be getting work done under conditions where the proportion of apprentices was over 20 to one adult. Female apprentices were not included in the Apprentices Act. His Honor said fomides were not apprenticed to tho trade in the same way as boys were. It appeared to him that it was a case whore tho master tailors should proceed by way of legislation. It might be possible to pass legislation making it an offence to sell as a tailor-made suit one that was not tailor-made. Many people were led to think that factory-made wore tailor-made suits. There appeared to have been a certain amount of deception in advertising. It was announced by the court that agreements in regard to the apprenticeship question had been arrived at in respect to a number of trades. OTHER TRADES. (Per United Press Association ) WELLINGTON, August 19. After dealing with the question of the apprentices to tailoring the Court dealt finally with tho following trades: Carpenters and Joiners, Painters and Decorators, Plasterers, Coach and Motor Body Builders, Jewellers, Plumbers, and Qasfitters. The Bakers' and Pastrycooks’ case was held over for further consideration, Mr Justice Frazer said that orders would be prepared and issued by tho Court as soon as possible.