THE BOOT TRADE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5488, 13 February 1896, Page 3

THE BOOT TRADE.

The ■ following letter has been received by Mr H. Milligan, Secretary of the New Zealand Federated Boot Trade Council, Christchurch : — " New Zealand Boot Manufacturers' Association. Dunedin, Feb. 10, 1896. — Dear Sir, — I am instructed by my Association to give you twenty-one days' notice— in accordance with the sub-commit-tee's report at conference of any alteration of the statement signed by Mr Eeece — that on and after the second day of March, 1896, all members of the New Zealand Boot Manufacturers' Association will commence to work under our new rules and conditions of labour as submitted to the first meeting of conference, copy of which is herewith forwarded, but that as a concession to your Federation my' Association will pay the wages and extras for benching and finishing as contained in the statement signed by Mr Eeece, together with all subsequent decisions of general Boards dealing with prices in these departments. This concession to be made without prejudice to our rights tp put in ah alternative and revised statement of wages, rules and conditions, should your Federation decide to refer any question involved to arbitration. — Tours, &c, Alfred H. Bridger, secretary for New Zealand- Boot Manufacturers' Association." It is understood that the Federated Boot Trade Union is not disposed to accept these terms. On two occasions a conference between representatives of the employers and employes has failed to agree upon the new rules and conditions proposed by the Manufacturers' Association, the men taking exceptiohto the following clauses i-^y (1) The employer has the sole right to determine whom he shall employ or dismiss. (2) Employers pr y employes', either ? individually r "dr '". through any org-ariisa-tion, shall not discriminate for or against any person because he is or, is not a member of any organisation. And also Clause 1, classification of\ departments, which reads, special department as per Eule 12 : — " There shall be no restriction in the employment or wages of, hands engaged by the week, when the wages are satisfactory to employer and employed, subject to the recognised minimum in special branches ; and any person shall be at liberty to arrange with his employer.to work on the weekly wage system."