TAILORS UNEMPLOYED

Otago Witness, Issue 3200, 14 July 1915, Page 9

TAILORS UNEMPLOYED

WORK ASKED ON SOLDIERS’ UNIFORMS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 9. A deputation from the Siiop Tailors’ Federation, consisting of the Hon. J. T. Paul (president of the Federated Factory Tailoresses), and Messrs W. W aterworth (secretary of the Wellington Tailors’ Union), and F. Cook (secretary of the Christchurch Tailors’ Union), waited on the Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen) to-day with a request that some of the work now being sent out by the Defence Department should be given out to the “bespoke” tailors, otherwise retail tailoring establishments. Mr Cook said that since the war the tailoring trade had been in a deplorable state. Many of their customers had been the “dressy” young fellows who were the first to answer the call, and their trade had been lost to the tailors. He’ understood that one tailor of Wellington had received a large contract for military uniforms, and was sub-contracting. What they wanted was a proportionate share of the work for thentrade as against the factory trade. Of course, the question of expense would bo submitted; but the men would receive better uniforms. A thousand pounds more or less would not affect the country just now, and if it was spent in wages it would be in a good cause. He had visited Timaru and Ashburton, and the employers there had asked him to assist them. He understood they wore going to make some representation to the Minister. They thought that at least the master tailors should have had the officers’ uniforms from the very first. Mr Waterworth said that what accentuated the position so much was the fact that the gentlemen referred to had obtained such a large contract. The Factories Act had boon suspended so that ho could work his employees almost any hours, even on Saturday night and Sunday. On top of that, not satisfied to get the whole of the Territorial uniforms, ho advertised special concessions to officers. The speaker had 13 or 14 men on his books out of work, and the majority of the 160 members were working half-time, making about 30s a week, on which to support a. wife and family. Ho understood that the department bought blankets from the tailor referred to. Mr Paul said he thought something should be done to help unemployment in the south. Ho understood that factory girls had been overworked, till they were exhausted, and threatened not to work further overtime, while there were girls in the south who could not got enough work. The trouble, he thought, was the large contract placed in the hands of one man in Wellington. It seemed to him that this man was pushing business with undue keenness, if, in addition to the big contract, ho wanted to secure the officers’ uniforms. Mr Allen said he was sorry to hoar that there were any tailors out of work, and he requested that statistical information should be given to him of such, and of those partially employed, eo that ho would know what ho had to face. As regards officers’ uniforms, the department had no control over them, and, if one tradesman was offering special attractions, ho did nob see how ho could interfere. Mr Waterworth: By curtailing the overtime.

Mr Allen said it was true that the tradesman referred to had a bin- contract, but he (Mr Alien) did not know that he subcontracted. The department contracted with a factory at this tradesman’s price. They were yetting their supply of uniforms built up. and were a little ahead now. Ho knew that the Factories Act was suspended at first, but ho did not know that it was still suspended to allow overtime. The initial difficulty in allotting certain amounts was one of expense. If they could devise a scheme where, by combination, they could produce at tho same price, he would be glad to help them. He suggested that.they should talk tho matter over with the Quartermastergeneral, and if they could devise a scheme, put it before him. Mr M'Combs suggested that there would bo no difficulty if tho men agreed to pay tho difference for a hotter uniform. Mr Allen; I don’t see any objection; but the members of tho force might see it. Mr Cook suggested that the Government might put pressure on the factories to make them supply cloth if tho tailors got any work, for uniforms. Mr Allen : If you will talk those things over with tho Quartermaster-general I will see him afterwards.