I.—lo.

38

Petition presented by Miss Whitehobn and Miss Daly. We, the undersigned employers and employes engaged in the wholesale clothing trade established in the following centres—Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington—finding that some steps are necessary in order to protect a large and important industry, affecting a number of employers, and employes who are willing to work and be paid under the present existing tailoresses' log in use in these centres, do humbly petition your honourable House to introduce the following necessary amendment to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act during the present session of Parliament: " That where a majority of the employers and employes engaged in any industry in which the goods manufactured are interchangeable throughout the colony have entered into an industrial agreement, such an agreement be made binding on all other employers and employes engaged in that industry throughout the colony"; or else, "That power be given to the Arbitration Court in cases where disputes arise in such an industry to make all other employers and employes engaged in that industry throughout the colony parties to such dispute." Your petitioners will ever humbly pray. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,525 copies), £23195. 6d.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9oo.

Price is.]