14-GUINEA SUITS

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1919, Page 7

14-GUINEA SUITS

LONDON TAILORS' DEMANDS LEAD TO HIGHER PRICES. Two well-known firms of tailors in the West End (London), Pope and Bradley's and Brinkman's, agreed recently to meet their men's demands for 100 per cent, increase on pre-war rates of wages, and certain other firms were expected to agree to the same terms (states a Loudon paper), In the meantime tho strike of employees of those firms who refuse to meet the men's demands continues.

I Many of the master tuilors are saying that if they grunt the rate demanded Ithey will have to charge 14 guineas for a tweed suit, 'Hint they arc already charging as much and more," was the reply at. the headquarters of the men':s society, "and even the cheapest firms are charging 11 guineas." The average cost of labor- on a Buit of clothes was seated to be':~l?or a..coat from 30s to (SB, a vea,t from list 0.125, trousers from lis to ,12s, p, complete suit fi'om's2s' to 06a.. ....,■'''

..To this,average price has,to lljie cost, of material, the cost of cutting, establishment pharges, and so oil, so that a suit of clothes, inay jn these days cost anything from £7 to £lO ,to, The extra. rate, jio.w .demanded by * the men would adof .one-third"more to the present cost of labor on a flu.it. "

The tailors say their;average earnings throughout the: year do nob exceed £3 a.week. The i£s/which has been, mentioned by the master** applies only, they point out, to'the busy season, ; •At a" meeting of the Association of liondon Master Tailors a resolution was passed confirming one of May li that any applications for revision of- rates of pay should be made through the Ministry of Labor, and pledging the master tailors to stand firmly by the decision to resist all such demands made through other channels.