THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23886, 14 August 1939, Page 8

THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY

SHORTAGE OF MACHINISTS ADULT APPRENTICESHIP PLAM SKILLED LABOUR REQUIRED (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND, Aug. 13. Praise for the plan for the transfer of men from the public works and scheme 13 to the footwear industry, but doubt whether they could be effectively employed untilthe" shortage of women machinists was overcome, was expressed over the week-end by Auckland boot and shoe manufacturers when commenting upon the scheme introduced by the Minister of Labour (Mr P. C. Webb). The plan resulted from representations by the boot manufacturers throughout the Dominion. Training Classes Suggested "We want to help the Minister and to work in with him as much as we .possibly can," said Mr H. Edwards, chairman of the footwear manufacturers' group in Auckland. "However, when a man sets out to build a house he has to start with the foundation, and in Our business, foundation is the machinist. At the present time there is a pronounced shortage of machinists throughout the Dominion, and until we can get some method of training women'with little knowledge of machine to the stage where they can be placed in factories on full time, it is useless providing extra men when we have such a shortage of machinists*. Perhaps some plan could be brought down so that women desiring to secure positions in boot and shoe factories could be taught in classes similar to those for technical training. If this is brought about, more skilled labour would be definitely required for greater production." Departmental Subsidies Speaking by telephone from Christchurch, the president of the Dominion Federation of Footwear Manufacturers (Mr D. V. Wilson) said that he thought ,the rates, of pay announced by the Minister Were for married men only. For single men. he thought that the rates were to be as follows:—-First half-year, £3 10s; second half-year, £3 15s; third half-vear, £4;. fourth halfyear, £4 10s; fifth half-year, £4 15s. Toward these wages, the department, he thought, would refund the following subsidies: First halfyear, £1; second ha? f-year, 15s; third half-year, 10s; fourth halfyear, 10s; fifth half-year, ss. Mr Wilson also said he understood that these adult apprentices would come under the ordinary quota of apprentices. If that were so, it would tend to restrict operation of the scheme, because most-of the factories were at present carrying their full quota.