FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 235, 1 July 1944, Page 8

FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY

Manufacturers Confer

To help overcome the acute shortage of labour in the footwear industry, the New Zealand Footwear Manufacturers’ I'etleration decided, at its conference, to ask tlie Controller ot Manpower, .Mr. 11. L. Bockett. ami the Factory Controller. Mr. G. A. Bascoe. that where it is deemed necessary, labour be directed to the industry from less important leather industries.

‘'While we felt that the difficulties of obtaining and retaining male and female operatives were great enough last year, the position has been intensified further over the last 12 months.” said the federation president. Mr. 14. It. Norman, Wellington. In the footwear industry last year, manufacturers in conjunction witii workers' organizations and departmental officials had, with tlie goodwill of the operatives, reduced absenteeism to a minimum, said Mr. Norman. Mr. Norman was re-elected president, with Mr. A". Dcarsly, Auckland, vicepresident. The executive is Messrs. It. Bavepnort (Wellington). A. J. O'Brien (Canterbury) and If. J. Guff (Dunedin). The Auckland representative will lie elected by manufacturers in that. area. The secretary is Mr. D. I. Macdonald (AVellinglon). of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation. During the concurrent annual meeting of the New Zealand Boot Manufacturers’ Industrial Union of Employers. Air. Norman was re-elected to the prosidene.y of that organization, and Messrs. Davenport. O'Brien. Duff, E. G. Bridgens. and H. Edwards were elected to the executive Mr. Dearsdy was reelected vice-president.