THE LABOUR LAWS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81910, 22 December 1906, Page 2

THE LABOUR LAWS.

DKPUTATIOX TO MINISTER FOR LABOUR. ACTIVITY IN HOOT TRADE. ASSISTED CIUL IMMIGI!ATFOX ASiKEJ) I'OU. Per Press Association. Auckland, December 21. A boot manufacturers' deputation informed the Hon. Air .Millar that to the scarcity of girl labour and tin; exceptional activity of trade, their position was so acute that one large iinn had taken its traveller oil' tin; roads, being afraid to take more orders. They asked for assisted immigration for girl labour. The present proportion was 2000 males to iOO female workers. Mr Millar eongiu Lulated the trade 011 its prosperity, and said if they could supply evidence of order* being refsed through the •scarcity of labour, and if, as he understood, the unions raised no objection, ho would instruct his inspector* to report Willi a view to recommending assisted immigration as proposed. {Stipulations were nece.-sary, otherwise tne Government might ut 11 ragged into a general system of asj : isLed imniigration. That was not now desirable. To another deputation lie said he i>::iicved tiie Masters and Apprentice* Act, IStiS, rendering apprenticeships fiiivalid after the ago of it), was sijil operative. lie could nut interfere with awards of the Arbitration Court, but if the workers showed that interpretations were constantly given against them contrary to the spirit of tin; Act, lie would consider an amend incut that would render jnisinterpre tation impossible. Replying to chemists, lie said he believed herbalists were included will: chemists under the Shops and. Act, and if such kept open their es tabiishmcnts during the chemists, hatoj;holiday, lie would instruct hi; to lake proceedings.