READY-MADE CLOTHING TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1454, 31 May 1912, Page 4

READY-MADE CLOTHING TRADE.

CONFERENCE ON HOURS AND WAGES. On Wednesday a conference was held between employers and employees concerned in the wholesale mmnufneturo of clothing in New Zealand. Mr. Halley, Conciliation Commissioner, was the unolßcial chairman. It was agreed by both parties that nothing should be said for publication outside the conference, and when a Dominion reporter asked for a resume. of the proceedings Mr. Halley mentioned that an agreement to say nothing about what had transpired had been made, and lie, as chairman, asked that no mention should lie made of the meeting. As it happens, a representative of the employees did make a statement to the representative of a paper. As that action broke the agreement, our representative felt unite justified in gleaning what information ho could with respect to tliis very important conference. Mr. I\ Kerens, president of the New Zealand Wholesale Clothing Manufacturers' Association, on 'wing interviewed vesterday. stated that tho parties t» the conference had been unable to come to anv agreement, anil hud dissolved without tangible result. The present award under which the employees in tho clolhiiv trade were working (which was a Dominion award) had expired, and fresh conditions of labour involving in their original form an advance in wages of i) per cent., and reduced hours of labour were proposed by the ,\'«w Zealand federated Clothing Trade Employees' Union. The omplovers were unable to agree to any of the proposals. They, he stated, would have (lie effect of raising the cost of clothing to every householder in the Do. minion. Tie pointed cut that the increased eost of manufacture asked for would lead to an advance in the retail prices of hoys' ready-made suits to from Is. to lis., and in men's suits from is. to 4s. each.

Furthermore, he considered I hat any lis,- of ready-made clothing manufactured in Now Zealand, unlr-rs preceded by a corresponding rise of, say, from 2a per rent. (tin- piv-enl Outv) to 10 per rent., would damage the industry, and largely inen a : e I In- importation ot wearing apparel, which even under present minli--11- exceeds CUIIIM.ne'.I |"'t ulllllllll. 'I'llf employers would not accept that responsibility, and would nnl.v ron-ent to a renewal tor three years of the pro-out award. The workers seemed to think that they emiM get at leasl some conce-sion by an appeal to the Arbitration Court, aiid there the matter rcsUi