BOOTMAKERS' AWARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 April 1918, Page 5

BOOTMAKERS' AWARD.

APPLICATION TO SUSPEND APPRENTICE CLAUSE. By, Telegraph.—-Pre«3 Association. Dunedin, Last NightMembers of the Arbitration Court today sat as a Commission of Inquiry to hear an application by the Boot Manufacturers' Association of New Zealand lor the suspension of the apprentice clauso in the bootmakers' awards of the Dominion. The clause states that apprentices shall not exceed one to three journeymen. Mr. Mappledeck (Auckland) appeared for the employers, and ilr. Hunter (Christchurch) for the workera. Mr. Mappledeck said tho request was made owing to difficulties arising through the war. They asked the Court to take tho representations as being made with the si ncero desire to assist tlie country to tlie fullest extent possble, and to preserve the boot industry. With the calling up of the Second Division, the association was confronted witli the prospects of a still further decrease in tho output, owing to the impoasiblity of securing skilled operators. They had been unable to secure enough workers to cany out contracts in hand, a nd the output was diminishngMr. 'Hunter said the workers did riot teeve that public necessity demanded a suspension of the clause. They regarded the application with distrust and alarm- It was to the women they must look to get over the difficulty resulting from the absenco of male labor. Evidence was given ttyit none of the factories in Christehurch had the number of apprentices to which they ♦ere entitled, and that the employers in Auckland made no otfort to induce the relumed soldiers to enter the industry. The commission will report to the Gover-hor-General.