BOOT OPERATIVES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1482, 3 July 1912, Page 9

BOOT OPERATIVES.

J TERMS ARRANGEO. j AFTER PROTRACTED DISPUTE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association) Christchurch, July 2. Tho disputo between the New Zealand Federated Boot Manufacturing Association and tho New Zealand Federated Boot Trade Union Sias lieen settled as tho result of a recent conference following 011 a. conference jjreriously held and proceedings beforo tho Conciliation Council at Auckland. For the- agreement arrived at a certain amount of credit is duo to Mr. Giles, Conciliation Commissioner, though tho agreement was not arrived at till after the Conciliation Council pro. ceedings. The most important alterations agreed to with regard to malo employees arc ;is follow:— Tho first and second grades of workers have been struck out, and there now remains only one grade. Tho wages for all workers under tho agreement will bo Is 2d ]>er hour, representing an increase of 7s Gil per week in respect to the wages of tlioso workers who wero in Grado 2 under tho old award, aud of ss. 74d., in respect to tho wages of tlioso workers who were in Grade 1 under tho old award. Tlio apprenticeship clause has been altered considerably by tho adoption of what is known as "the Court's clause." Tho term of apprenticeship is fivo years, and the wages coinmenoo at 10s. per week for tho first six,months, with 2s. (id. per week increase every six months. Under the old award apprentices started at ss. per week for tho first year, 7s. Sd. for tho second, 12s. for tho third, 17s. Gd. for tho fourth, and 255. for tho fifth. Under new agreement apprentices' wages during the final dx months of their anprcnticeship will bo 325. Cd. Tho underrate workers' clauso has been altered by tlio adoption of what is known as "the Courts clause."

Iho proportion of apprentices to journeymen is . ono to three, or fraction of tho first three; in tho clicking department, J t0 '1. or fraction of tho first lour; in the making department, 1 to 4, or fraction of the first four; in tho finishing department, 1 to 2, or fraction of tho first two; in tho rough stuff department, 3to 4, 4 to G, 5 to 8, G to 12, and so on iu (hat proportion.

As to female workers, tho only alteration in the new agreement is in the apprenticeship clause, which is now put on a definite footing. There will bo only oho class of apprentices instead of three under the old award. The term of apprenticeship is five years, and the wages will be 10s. for tho first year, 13s. for the second, IGs. for the third, 10s. for the fourth, and 235. for the fifth.

Mr. G. R. Whiting. secretary of the New Zealand Federated Boot Trado Union, made tho following statement to a 'reporter:—"Notwithstanding the fact that tho agreement has been arrived at •between the parties (and I am glad that a settlement has been arrived at in conference, being a strong believer in conciliation) wo have not secured every point that wo aimed at. There aro a number of anomalies still in the old award, but they aro not so serious as those that have been altered by tho new agreement. The increase to the minfmuin wage man is not what we asked for, which was Js. 4d. per hour. At the same time, the increase obtained is an increase on tho wages of those earning the' piesent minimum, and should n.oan an increase to those who aro earning more than the present minimum. In my opinion tho increases in wages should not mean any increase in the price of boots to tho public, as the improved methods of manufacture, adopted during the last ten years, have decreased thecostof production. These improved methods, and the decreased cost of production, should enable the employers to pay tho increased wages without increasing the price of boots to the public. I want to make" an appeal to the people of Now Zealand, and iliat is to make sure, when purchasing boots or shoes, that the articles_ have born made in the Dominion. Bv doing so they will give more constant employment to our workers, they willbc able to wcurc just as good an article—in seme cases a better article. ■ They will tvlfo cause money to circulate in the Dominion, and ensure more employment to other workers ill'other industries. Last year there was over ,0)0,(100 worth of boots am! shoes imported into the Dominion, This rtp.to of things ought not to he, as the >>»' Zealand'manufacturers can produce just o.s gncd an article as tho foreign manufacturer." Mr. Robert Allan, of Messrs. Skelton, Frostick and Co., onn of the largest employers in tho Dominion, states thatit is satisfactory to have the matter settled. Tho. manufacturers know now on what basis thev have to work, and on which (hey must meet competition. The increase in the minimum wage makes it the more difficult to fight the imported article, which is such a big feature in the retail boot trade of the Dominion. It is now juSl a question of tho enterprise and energy of the manufacturers, w.lio would bavo to emplov the most efficient and up-to-date methods of manufacture, and employ the best men that, can bo got.