THE CLOTHING TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2927, 20 April 1910, Page 12

THE CLOTHING TRADE.

UNIFORM DOMINION AWARD. HON. MR PAUL INTERVIEWED. The Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C.. has returned to Dunedin after a brief visit to Auckland, the purpose of which was to represent the Tailor-esses' "and other Clothing Trade Employees' Federation before the Arbitration Court in connection with the application for the extension of the Clothing Trades Federation award to the northern (Auckland) industrial district. It will be remembered that former applications have been made for this consummation—one in 1903 and a second in 1906 —but both were unsuccessful owing to the combined opposition of the Auckland tailoresses and the clothing manufacturers. Mr Paul's visit was really sor the purpose of completing hi 6 mission of last year. On that occasion he succeeded in inducing the Auckland tailoresses to join the Southern Federation. • Having l accomplished that ■ the above amplication, was made, and, under the altered circumstances of the combination of the workers in this industry throughout New Zealand, the application was not opposed by the Auckland employers. The position now _is that a uniform award in the clothing industry is in operation from Auckland to the Bluff. This idea has been aimed at for close on 20 years—ever since the striking revelations were made in Dunedin about the sweating prevalent there. A very important amendment, Mr Paul states, was added to the southern awa.rd, providing for the transition period from the piecework system to the time wage system. - The new award abolishes piecework and substitutes time wages. It provides that a worker, working on piecework prior to the extension of the new award, and earning over 25s per week, shall be paid on a basis of previous earnings, despite the fact that the minimum wage is 255. To provide for this, the following amendment has been made in the award as applying to Auckland: " The minimum weekly wage to be paid to any female worker heretofore working on piecework slm.ll be the nearest wage to her average full-time earnings during the last six months or periods amounting- to six months, or such period as she shall have worked for her present ' employer. Should any worker be dissatisfied with the minimum wage offerd to • her by the employer on the above footing, she may apply to the inspector of awards or such other person as may be appointed for that purpose by the court.--to have the same computed and fixed." .

The award also provides for a minimum wasre throughout the colony of £2 15s peer week to prefers, this beinpr the first protection they have had in Auckland under the Arbitration Act. Mr Paul expressed' himself to a Time-s reporter as beirn? very well pleased with the result of hie visit, especially since it consummates an ideal so long held and assiduously pursued by the Tailoresses' Federation.