BOOKMAKER CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 405, 14 January 1909, Page 6

BOOKMAKER CONFERENCE.

NO SETTLEMENT WITH EMPLOYERS.

STATE BOOT FACTORY WANTED. : .(BX TELEGEiPH—PHIS3.'ASsbciAIIOK'.S ( 1 Chrlstchurch, January 13. -A';-' ; :-A . conference between representatives :of ■ > . ; the New Zealand Boot Manufacturers' Fed/.'..i erntion and .the New Zealand Bootmakers' ■. . Federation" took place: to-day, the business , being to discuss details,iin-connectionwith a .. proposed .industrial .agreement.,to take• the - placo of tho existing award of the Arbitra- • tion Court. Tho representatives- -.of: • .'the :.ibootmakers' (the employees) federation asked ; for considerable additions, to- the award,- and r more favourable 'conditions 'and' Greater re-strictions-outside ' the operation of their own. ;individual work. As a,result the conference - failed, in the,matter, of-an. industrial.' agreement,, tho bootmakers' delegates s.tat- ;>, ■ ing. that: they .couldinot accept, the respon- - Eibility. meeting the in tlieir views,' and that tney 'would have to report : 'ivto that effect to their'federation; The cm- ,, . . ployers .had put their, views on the 'subject . of the proposed industrial ngieement in writing . morder-to prevent: the possibility of any • misunderstanding, but, pending the consider- . . . ation of those views by the . workers' federa--::.vtion, .and in view of- the probability i of anappeal to tho - Arbitration Court, the docu-c-ment was not available.to the press: ■ The. Boot-Manufacturers' Federation meets . to-morrow to transact formal business, after i , which!the proceedings will close- and the vis- .. . itmg delegates will leave for.tlieir homes.' At a meeting of the executive of the. New . Zealand Federated Boot Trade Union, held - ■.!.. ito-night, ■ the; following : motion ■. was agreed - ■ .to: -"That owing toitno refusal-of the New . . Zealand- 8001. Manufacturers'' Federation to ':■■■ concede.a- fair, rate• of iwages. and conditions :. < of.. employment to theworkers,• at tho con-- ... \ferenoo t-o-day,-.tho executive take the necesof the,'duty, imported 'boots''and 1 - Shods,' 'as ■' it'considers. that tho.;workers? of/the Dominionshould . rot bo taxed to support' an industry. which »-v.— cannot provide decent' conditions . of. -em-, v ployment for the workers -connected , therewith; also that tho various, trades councils, , ) unions of workers, and'members' of- Parlia- ■; .;; ; ment -be approached: m reference to the ■ mat- , ter. and a strong conimitteb be appointed to :.' mako tho . necessary: arrangements for an active canvass in the interests of the movejnent ; : and,~ further,, we.: are jof opinion that the-only solution of the boot :and shoe trade difficulties is for the Government-to start '.State .boot factories - throughout the. Dominion, and the federation, again offers to loan the Government £2000 for 1 the purpose." ~