BOOTMAKERS' DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 517, 26 May 1909, Page 5

BOOTMAKERS' DISPUTE.

CASE BEFORE ARBITRATION COURT. EFFECTS OF TARIFF AND IMPROVED PRODUCTION.. EVIDENCE FOR THE WORKERS. Inoreoso of wages, decroaso of hours, and other alterations of were sought by tho Now Zealand Fedorated Bootmakers' i Union from tho corresponding Federated Association of Employers in a caso which was opened beforo,tho Arbitration' Court yesterday. Mr, Justice Sim presided, and with him sat Mr. S. Brown, omployors' representative, and Mr. J. A. M'Cnllough, workers' representative ,'on the Court. Tho workers wore represented by Mr. A. H.' Cooper (Wellington), Mr..G. R. Whiting (Christchurch), and Mr. P. Logan (Dunedin). Representatives of tho employers were Mr. J. A. Frostick (Christchurch), Mr. T. Hodgson (Auckland), and Mr. W, M'Kinloy (Dunedin), who . had associated with them Mr. G. A. Coles (Coles and Co., Ltd., Auckland), Mr. W. Murray (Murray and Co., Auckland), Mr. F. O'Brien (M. O'Brien and ,Co., Christchurch), Mr. J. Kingsland, sen.', and Mr. J. Kingsland, Jan. (Kingsland and .Sons, Invercargill), Mr. James Hannah (R. Hannah and Co., Wellington),, and 'Mr. W. Brunskill 1 (Staples and Co., Wellington). ' v , - A Question of'.Representation. V Mr. A. H. Cooper, representing the union, said that Mr. Frostid;, one of tho employers, had been & party to, a previous conterencS', had then sat as an assessor on a Concilia- ,. tion.'Council, and..was, now ..appearing as a •■■ ;•':. representative: of the; employers.,' Although: ■■',i\;; !:/-.; he; kriew/;of/nothing/Jn the' Act to'disqualify ; from, acting, it.seemed to him If/ : / : //;;- ■'.; ;■';.-.'v^V'- '■::. : . :'-,.//Mr J Frostick .replied..that; as president' of.' ■;'■ ;A'f the-Ne'w,/Zealand Bootmakers' Federated' AV ' ;Bociation,-.hp had been asked.' to represent tho .-.'.. , ;';.v' : V-(employ era, and .was infornied-.that'there ,was '■■■''■'-'. \'- -/ ,nothingyto prevent.his doing so. \■■- '■■'.''• .:■ ' ; ; : ■ 'V : ; . : s:^'.:Ta>in and improved.Production,;- •';' ' !..,': vS'^'•■'•Mr.' ; : Cooper '.'did not., pursue'bis'Objection. ..yK;.-';' 'In; introducing itho: that ?. : ;/;'-;H;;/; ',:■':■ this* was: height years'that it. '*■£?■':• ,:>v. had/beennecessary : tp'brilng':bef ore':the Arbi-r ■}:■■■■'/;'-■■ ':':,-:■ ; tratibh -'.Court :-.a•;■;dispute;-;betiye'eri/ : ;thb;,two: '!.■:■':.■•■}; /rMrACopper/gayo'an' /historical r':-;.. ; i" "of'.the.relatipnship'betweeriVthe.two ; v'cV ://'•; ; ; parties to; /tho industry if r'oni .befbrb'thVintro- ,■;,;'..'.-;' ductibn.-of ; tho:arbitration'.systehi.'"- : .'Tlie com-; yx'x^X'■'■■' /('petition', of /imported/:gpbds/'had / beoh';'con!:.';/■'".';V; -y stantly quoted by.the manufacturers as'dn ob-'.. ?;'•' L.^'V B * a to the;improvement'of;conditions, and !;i. . , ;: . ; ;ithe .wdrkers'r;h6ped amelioration as. the result of ;th'e,new';tafiff;"'v \Vhen, hewever, !■'*/ '"^ /;' they met :the- ; manufact'u'rers';.in;';conference 6v *:.'•: ,''■//- after \th'o',introduction ; of: the 'tariff .'they .wore I. 1 ;; -i.Vi/ /tbld .that'the: trade was still languishing,' but V;-;'.-\i'':': "/that/if.they',, were, -'good':boys" and/worked, p ;;;;;.'■ '/; hard:''they' would .receive, another,, farthing an S: :■;■•. ; ;■■> : ; hour; ! ■ ,The Federated 'Union .had 'd6ho';eyefyvi;i- •:.:■:,• thing, in th v eir.: power,to assist, the maiiufac- !.';■: ■",v-,JinTers'to:,compete'with.'foreign'importations,' /"vv .;..:; : :. : and;~th"is,'-;Was. their ■'' reward; ..The leaders'.'of' ';...'/, vi'-vthe '.',■ -■;;•;V : .'a years/'bySthe,' 'for""being ; so;.easily ;' /.V'^ V;.-i. ] >x- : x~}. Jturers.;itbat?;;improved ConditionsfwduldJbe; 'given.;when the'trade ;had been'placed,, with ■■■";; ;?■ i.their/assistance, ■■' on ;; a/'better .'footing, .'and- ';;.,.. :;;;;Vthisl offer.: of ian;. extra,' fiirthing .'an: hour; was ;':.;•',; V:till:.that>tnby;c6uld..show,the workers.as, the .'.'.•'•.'■>."'•:''':'^^,result.'sofrthoir.vfor.be'arahce;^;'Tho;trade had :'' ; V'.;lpng'ihad 'the. reputation'of...being -the''worst-'' ,'i .■;'.:■...'; paid, skilled; industry';in ;,tho; : ,Domihion ! .; The ..:'; feeling 0f... thq.'.rhon.. throughout 'New\Zealarid ;•■-.-.■■•> ; ;;.was;that the,case, must;now'come..before the! ; ; .''■ '^(CqurtTfor;;settle^ ;.; ; ."' something;.like, treasonable ; 'terms, from ;the' ;::';■;:• : ;:It(WaS;:cbmputed;that : the aVor- ..;;.;:;-;: i:age ;cost ■of /labour; inl'makirig: and finishing ■■/''.,•' ■[>.■:'; the'various boots ; and'shoes mado'in ;Messrs. ;.... ; :'Skeltonj'Frostick !and,Co.'s..factory,-was.;.ls.: :■', '■■'■ :'., ; 2}d.'per : 'nair/ ; as';against the ! -'•■"'■ '"'.piece-work'log-; of 1901—a .saving VbfSd. on ; .'.■.■■'''',',';^wh. > paii./';.;;Li',ipo6| :! census : ; :-;vreturns,:;a^'million.:;and;. : a^quartpr; ; !pairs of '',;. .;.;'■, : ;:boo.ts;.were'VnianiTiactur^'vin-.Ne'w;/Z.ea]and|' : -'.' ' v '■/• ?r.eprßsentihg,V:'ot'..this ; v'rate.'..'of:; Bd;':iij'.pair. v : a > :':'■•'■ :j ,:'<•; t.otaL;;saving;;of;;i4l,'6oo,-.;as'; compared .with -,;'.' ; .^'.''the.bidjconditioris:'..:lt-might be said.'that-'all : -;; '•';■;■''■'. tha-jfactoriesvdid 'not.use.iiachinery, and,: ;-;>;>:;rnodern:; ; nppliancos,' -wouldibe. •'. icalled tbishow.that,workers-in: those obsolete '.; '--' V; ifact'ories," if ho 'might call' them so;'wero ~",. ennally.'at.:a ; disadvantage. '."From .1906 to : .:' .. ■: .1908.! thore' was '-a' decrease. in- tbe •; value" of. ;''■■'■■ ''boots'-and';sh"oes .imnnrted into TTtiw 'Zealand >,;'/;■ r ;. to'ltheextentbf; £48,000: He.claimed that the' { ,ii';.'. workers.shonld/participate,in the advantages : ;A';"::;.'; ;which ;had accrued to ;tho trade ;by: : virtuo of .; : ';v:;; : ;./;'tho-tariff;Md ; imm , oved mcthodS'/'of.'.constrjic'-'. '."',:•':,;;: 'tion ;.ii'' ; lf', the; wjjoleVpf- the; claims''madeon i';:'':,' ; : ',,'''V behalfV'bf .were/'conceded, it would '-.'.•■, ■■ v >V, , "v seme£2o,ooo per annum, ■■;' •'■"';: -in.wage charges, but'as 'the'employers' were :'/;.,': i - benefiting to "the; extent 'of, £71-.000 per .an-; ;; ,num;:,it wasvfclt ; they;; cculdi;afford ; ;it very^ s;'.-i : -:^.. ! -Vell.-.i'''.^-/!'^'--^. ; -k:--h^'^-. : S ; ' I 1"";'."./"■■■' ■■' : .' ; . ./■';C:r'' s W i Hs;'?^^.Thß\M.en's;.C|aliriß/^« ; ;, ; .; ■; .'' ■ • ,;•:; •;■>.■ ''The claims, of; the .union' werp' briefly as if ulv ?;v.;, ; v all the /departments irecbg- ■ //;;/:;J; jiised byl/the: award/inone but/members of : '. : ;^,,, .the': 'New/Zealand ' Federated. ■/•■'Boot." -Trade employed,:and oh .the'part. ,!;. ;./ : ; of.^he'/union ;preferoncp' of..service, should- to }..'■'. ■■■ giyen-to .the members'; 'of v,the/; JEmplpjors'; ~- / ■ Federation; it,:being iunderstoqd that in each' .;; ..:'■'';'; case all' things equal.'/' The proposed .' ?■ .; ■■■ rulOs' and conditions "'should be applied to all v . ■;'.••■ .//work .nan employed iii, the industry/ for ; five j r '' '.;,: years/and; upwards, and- all ifemales em- '':;',". /ployed'for. fo,aV.*:years:;ah.d;,upwards..;'Fre'e--1,-/:: \ ./, dbhi /shoidd ; .be given., -to. manufacturer's' in - re-. ; ';/J'gar^d_;.to /'ihtroductioh:;-of; : machinery,J'.sub-' •/,' ,'..,/■.'division':of 'labburj'Vartd'cbntroliof 'factory, ;.•';•. /: :■'■■ ] 'employers ;.tp.-*supply tools; -pf .'trade. ■:-'■;;/• 'various departments .should'bo classi- ';■' ;/ tied .as: .folloWyj—-Clicking Department :• (con-; '; -..; sisting' 6f clickers); .Rough Stuff/Department' ;;; ~: . "i .;:(commencing.-with the operation of^raiging /•;. '. / ,: /'(obmmenciiig /with.; the: skiving --~' of -uppers, :"/.: Finishing DepartV ; ":-. ment:'(co'mmencing with.heel paring,- and;end-' ft' ■'. ,;'- ; ; ,irig -:>vith Tubbing .off .heels or'edges); and' '-; ;■• //v' : : ;; Machinery/; Fitting;' and/: Cleaning'VDepart'.'..,';;,/merit (embodying all female workers). '. • i -; .'"/,-A:week's:work'should consist.of ,44 hours, ,:/H; : . -.tolio worked.between 8 a.m. and : l2'hoon and' ',:•/. 1 p:m. and,s/p.m. on'five days of'tho weekj ".:'VV'-' and:B.a.m. and 12,n00n 'on.'.tho' half-holiday. './•;- ;;■ /: The ;minimuin;:wage- for. all female'"ivorkers ■//: -;:'.;.should not,re /less 'than ;325.; t 6d.';.pef, week, ; ;:•:';":''■■■: / - except, girls,'. working wax thre'ad .machines, .;':■'£' :,;:::iyho;;should; receive =£2 lOs./ per/ week '.' /Tho ;: S; ;i/.; -minimum ■ wage for vail' workmen should not -:.J-"- '-:■■ bo less .than..ls.'.' 4d;- per.hour.. ,;Time lost ',':-. -..''through default-of<tho worker,'*or by reason , V;,-: the breakdown or, accident of, machinery , •.:..'., Mised.by.'the omployef,' shpuld. bo deducted :'.:■.;•, '-irbm.wages.; Overtime, should .bo paid'■ for /'.; '■■, atthp rates following :—For; iho first two .:v,;.;,;,'..;hbiirs:.Timb and a quarter, and timo a'rtd ://:.,;.!a;;half,afterwards.' The following holidays '■ : i; ': Year's Day, Anni- ;.; / ./■/..vbrsary. pf, /the , Provincb, Good Friday, ;://;;■' ;;: ; :Jb;aster Monday,' Prince of Wales Birthday, :': ; ' ; ,/" Dabouf ..Day, /Sovereign's .Birthday, Christ- ;;,,;;'. Day,"and Boxing .'Day. /All work per- ;:;' formed on thes'e holidays should be paid ' for. at/'double rates. : Should'females. bo em- ; ■• .;.''; ■:. ployed in', tho clicking; making,- finishing, ■and rough-stuff departments, they/should be ; : ; /subject to tho samo conditions of labour as .:. •. '/.;-/.male'/employees. -, Working.hours might be • reduced: through .slackness;-but part of "a -'X day wprked should not count Jess'than/' four , > ;;. .hours.,: Tiventy-feurhonrs'; notice of ter- '.,,. y Animation of omployrtiont should bo 'giverii.ori , :.;■/' .'either/side../ A' joint committee might' issue '-.;.: ,'iinderrrat'o permits. '■'■ "■■ . /.._ Apprentices'-niust. be paid /as 'follow.— ■ ;■•'••''Males: First year/ 10s. per week'! seccrd, ,'..-. losi; .third, £1 2s; 6(1 •, fourth, £1 10s. ,fd.; '• . . "-fifth;- £1 17s. 6d. Females: First year, 10s.; . .-second, 125.'6 d.. for six months, -then 155.; . ..':iliird, 17s. 6d. and.2os.; fourth, 225..6d./and J7s. 6d. The'period of apprenticeship should ■ ■'.';■:«;. if or ./males, .five years;'.: females,', four ; ; /ears, /with one /month'.for .probation to, bo .';■.'; -' ■.-included in apprenticeship; .-::,:-jiions /aro/proposed.'■ for. the .safe-guarding of .'■;•";-. apprentices, and 'it.. is: provided that: the //'iPNPbrt'Pa of apprentices; to journeymen v j-:-^i;iionld. be as follows:—Clicking Department: ? ■'.' '~.'":;',p.np..: , appr.entico to every three men or: frac- :. ..'tion'of this.first-three.- Making Department: ■-/One to:bvoryfburor.fractiori/of tho first four. .-;' "'''Finishing/Department: Onoto everv. four or /, of :thj first four.' Rough Stuff De-. ;.;,':• S;;.partmeri{:/Ono'to every thfeb or fraction'of ■■-"••v './/tho-'firstthrie. /.,'-:: . ; ; ,: ..-:' • . . ' ./'/.//Every brnployer should ,bo entitled to ono -. . foreman :to. each; department, in addition to '~ the general foreman, subject to tho followtxu> caashiiaos.: Clicking "thcuw

hree . men aro employed; Making Departneot, where twelve men are employed; Pushing Department, where Isight men are employed; Rough Stuff Cutters, where two men ire employed. .Foremen, or employers' sons hquld'not be eligiblo for membership to any lriionof workmen, and should not be reitricted .by,any clause of the award - . No employer should ho allowed to introluce piece-work or any bonus system.Prospects of Friendly Sottletnent, Mr. Cooper said ho'saw.no reason Why the ivholo of the men's claims should riot bo igreed to in a friendly manner, except-those •egarding. wages and apprentices. "', His Honour thought that the claims would mm theaward of, 1905 pretty.: well upside town;-:.'.-Apart from . termination of employment, not - much of that award appeared to )e retained. Tho onus .was on the Federated Union-to show causo for altering tho )ld award.'. '.'-.■'."- ; . :.,-.' ..'•.-- On _ Mr. ; Cooper suggesting that the diffcrmce'in some clauses would not bb very great n practice,; his Honour-said 'that all the Iraughtsmcn:of these-claims seemed to sot ihomselves; to _ alter !as - much -as .possible, initead- of. as little as possible,' the previous iward. !■;.'.,', ."v v ''":; ! '...'.';'..,'•. In reply, to Mr. Frostick,-Mr. Coopar sajd ;hat-the union did .riot.. wish -to prevent narriedwomen from takirig work home.-The inion did not demand payment for holidays >n, which men did 'not work;.' -Sir. Cooper reviewed the/union's- claims / ' ; in : detail., and idmitted that the following clause might reluiro' to be modified:; "That, each boy or. ;irl apprenticed:to the trade'shall be thornighly taught"all the operations or^machines ,as the case may ho) nr tho 'branch''of the ;rade to 'which he or 'she has been apprcn;iced.".j The union idid not object-to a piece: vork system; provided .that''they''had 'a say n the preparation of the schedule of rates. rhe v usual -troublo with piece-work-was that lifferent rates .were' ,paid in different' . fac;ories:..;' '\\-,. ■'•"., -.'-.■■■.'.' : ' '-'•■"■ ..■', ■ ■.. ■''y,X An Unexpected Challenge. ■■". In-tho'course of .further reference to thi jnion's demands,. Mr. Cooper made an allusion. ,to : tlie • Victorian award, which : .'Mr. Frostick unexpectedly,caught up. ..'.'.' ■... ' "You have .been, telling us,- said -Mr. iTrostiek, .'"the great advantages obtained in Victoria.;. Now, I tell' you ■ what, wo will do. SVe will accept; the Victorian award and its provisions just'as it is at present. '.We will iccept the -wage's, and all conditions for Now. Zealand if the'.'union will'do the same;". -•'.'.■'.; •"; "Mr.: Frostick knew perfectly: well before' ie 'made;-the' offer," ' replied .-Mr. -',-' Cooper, !that:wb : could not. accept it.".: : ..• '■ ..»• "Hi's Honour:. Why not,' Mr. Cooper.?. '■'/'■'> :Mr. Cooper:. Becauso wo -would be accept: rig 'conditions as to' log/etc, of'which we snow very little. • ' ~ >'.:. •"-. ■■;■'.-.. - ..,".-...- :■ Mr.- Frostick: Well, striko.out the- log ilause, and wo will'accept the ! .\yholb of the londitionsjvwith that exception: ,'; • '.' •v : - 'His Honour: What is the L hourly. ;;wage? -, Mr. -Frostick': One shilling. ■•'■• ::.,.;■'' .;Mr^. : Cooper: It ; js not likely we ..are. going to do: that.,-/ .'.■ .•'.'..' :■:■'-.:-'.::.. ■ His Honour:: Then you admit that'you, are' better,off .under,the award or 1905 than you. vould be'under the Victorian award?. .That i' ; what : .it. conies, to.;,'; ' -."■'.- '-~ -'.'-,'■' Mr. Cooper: As far as a compromise is, xmcerhod.wo aro quite prepared to make an 3ffer,ibut J do. not know' if:it ;is: Worth'my ivhilb-to make it: If Mr. : Frostick'.thinks,itis,, iworth ..while'.to talk the-, matter- -over pietly;-we/are ready to', consider,it:.' ; -/V.';- ' ::;>';'., Evidence for the Workers. / : , 'Mr. Cooper .'then 'Called.evidence; to sup|wrt the 1 workers' claims.-', : .•"-'; '•:)'■.'::• Charles John : Ward, works manager'since 1908 for-Messrs. Hannah'arid Co., and; previously 'employed for nine years by .Messrs. Skelton; Frostick and Co. ■ (Christchurch), saw-no reason why the rough>stuff-depart-■ ment should 'not be iiicludedyin the award.. The- minimum .-.wago might, 'be increased to, £2 10s. -without injury.to the industry; -.' 'To Mr.'Frostick:.The raising. of the-mini-mum wage might drive inferior workmen out of.the trade.'; ~; ';".'..-'"V I '-'■;.'• :'. Arthur./ Rqso, i ,managor.,6f tho ", Wellington Co-opera'tiyb' Bob.t'.Factory,; thought ,£2 10s. a fair minimum None,,of;;the..men under him received .less'.thantha't;"''' "•' ''' , '*' ■ ;■' To Mr., Frostick: Some of his men received inorb than:£2 10s., There.werb 'men.in the industry.whom he,would l not,pay £2; 10s.'. Frederick Rbbson-, employed-in the,making rlepa'rtment of R. H. Tufnbull and Co.;and secretary of the 'Christchurch branch/of■ the federation, said'.thatTthe. branch iriemborship: was 577.' There were no non-unionist malo workers' employed in Christchurch.' Nonunionists had b'een given emplovment, arid had joined the' union afterwards.' Ho thought it would "be fair., to allow employers 'to.engage whatever 'labour thoy liked,; so long, as the; men joined 'the bunion within 7a' reasonable time. Witness-.cited instances of ■ a'p-. prentices:who,;he said, had been■ discharged after learning- tho trade.;' The Federated Association did not,place obstacles, in-the way of nicn; joining the union.' ■■'■ -.;-■ Witness ,was cross-examined at length by : Mr. Frostick. r He admitted that it would be impossible -to, teach. the hoys; all' the •machines .■ during the: period of apprenticeship. James Young, '.'cliupe'r; employed- by Skely' tori, Frostick, and Co., that his wages were Is:. s}d. an. hour. He had 'been secretary of the 'Federated Union .and 'an officer of the Christchurch branch. There was no system of.' : ; teaching apprentices ; the trade. ;If a'hoy had initiative and.force s of character he could force Jiis'wny albn<r, . deposed that he was in receipt .of -£2 ,17s. 6d. per week. When working for one firm-for £2 ss; ho required to. do :'a's :much work as he .did for another ifirm which-paid him £3. The cost of living-was. much cheaper in Tasmania than: in-New-Zealand. ■ \ . ' .v v ■.■"■■ ; Wm. Butler, employed in tho making department at:M'Kinley's, 'D'unedin, gave, evidence: that he received SOsi .per week. He "heeled" thirty-four pairs per day. ■ : Albert Webber deposed that he-was eraployed 'by Messrs. 'Jtoss arid ; Glendining. and Co.-, Dunedin,; He was employed in the mak- - ing department, and received 475. 6d., per; ' ,week; as against 455. some weeks ago.. '.-..' ~ ■■ James M'Farlano stated that he >was a bench-hand.at"Messrs. Ross and Glendining. and Cb.'s, Dnnedin. His. w ; agO was 50s. per w'eek.: .According to tho prices- in-' tho old log,'be would:have earned £64 for work for which'he was paid only £43.. '■' -f Frederick T. Harding deposed that he was . paid 525. :6d.- per weejc, as a henchman by Johnston's, Auckland. To Mr.. Frostick: There were about'threo hundred and twenty men under the award at Auckland. To Mr. . Cooper: The abolition of-piece-work brought about a reduction in the number of-hands. .Frederick Holmes, emnloyed by Johnston: Bros.. Auckland/' stated that'. he .received 625; ! 6d. .''<• '"■;, ;''u i-, At this, stage the Court adjourned .until 10.30 this mornins. " /