THE BOOT TRADE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7802, 5 September 1903, Page 5

THE BOOT TRADE.

BESULTS OF THE CONFERENCE. • [Fkom Otjb Corbespondent.] WELLINGTON, September 5. From. Mr Arnold, who -was one of the workers' representatives on. the recent .conference in connection with the boob trade dispute, I learn that an agreement has been arrived at, which, will exist for two years. The point of^ greatest moment to the workers is a complete preference to unionists clause. Up to" the present time, preference has only been partial in the boot trade, inasmuch as employers are introducing a considerable amount of machinery, and the Court had held that the machinery department should not come under the preference clause in consequence. Another gain is the privilege of replacing any nonunionist who is at present working in this department by a unionist, within three months from the date of this agreement coming into force. Again, by mutual consent, forty-five hours has been adopted as a week's work, though the Arbitration Com* has repeatedly refused to reduce the hours below forty -eight, despite the fact that it has been pointed put that machinery has thrown a large number of men out of employment. Overtime pay will not, howeVer, commence till forty-five hours has been adopted as a week's work. There is also a slight rise in the minimum wage, bub Mr Arnold points out that the hours of labour are of the most importance, as that ■ practically means a rise of wages' to higher as well as lower paid men. Another very considerable gain to the -union is the fact that, in the new agreement, no foreman in the clicking department will be exempt from the union unless three men axe employed, and this, it is estimated, will mean a gain of. at least sixty members to the federation. The only point of consequence in which the employers have gained is that, in branches where no apprentices are employed, a manufacturer shall be .permitted to employ youths in proportion oi one to four men or a fraction of the firffc four. Such youths, however, are not to receive less than 15s a week for the first year, with a 10s rise per annum. A lad must be over eighteen when he commences work, ] and must ser.ve three years before bsing considered a journeyman. No conference had ever been held in the colony concerning disputes in the boot trade in which a better spirit prevailed than in that just concluded. Each side was striving to do its best for those it represented, 'but did not for | one moment lose sight of the welfare of the trade as a whole. The agreements J •have been filed by both sides, and will come J before the Arbitration Court at Wellington j [ on September 24, and it is anticipated that J these will be accepted as an award of the i Court without calling eyiden,c6. jgSit^ i _^._^ t .