TAILORS' DISPUTE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 643, 20 April 1929, Page 12

TAILORS' DISPUTE

QUESTION OF WAGES COMPETITION KEEN A large measure of agreement was reported in the tailors dispute that came before the Arbitration Court yesterday. The only matters that the Conciliation Council had not settled were wages, and the Arbitration Court was asked to fix the minimum rate of wages, the question of deductions, and the hourly rate for women’s tailoring. The present minimum rate is <£4 15s, and the union asked that it be increased to £4 19s. There was also an application for the exemption of cleaners and dyers from the provisions of the award, with a view to bringing them under the clothing trade .award. Mr. S. E. Wright appeared for the employers, and Mr. W. S. Moxsom for the union. In the application regarding the cleaners and dyers, concerning which there was a difference of opinion between two sections of the employers, Mr. F. S. Morton appeared for the master dyers and cleaners, and Mr. H. N. Preston for the master tailors. Mr. Moxsom opposed the exemption of the dyers and cleaners from tire award, on the grounds that the cleaners and dyers were in competition with tailors, doing alterations, mending, and renovation. Mr. Wright said the difference was that the clothing trade received an hourly wage, while the tailors received a weekly wage. The tailors’ employees were asking to be given the option of paying either on a hourly on a weekly basis. Evidence was given as to the marked falling off in the bespoken tailoring trade, owing to the keen competition of factory work. The hourly wage would enable employers to save £1 a suit. About 33 1-3 per cent, was the usual trade profit. The hearing of the remainder of the dispute was adjourned till this morning.