There were present Messrs Bates and Bazeley, representing the Union, and Messrs Paul Cave, Owen Parker, C Claridge, F Walker, H Perkins, G Skerritt, Jos Knight, jun., F Ballard, and W Sanders, jun.

Mr Owen Parker proposed that Mr Paul Cave take the chair.

Mr Bazeley seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously.

Mr Cave then took the chair and read correspondence which had been received from various manufacturers, all being favouirable to uniformity being established.

The general feeling seemed to be that the most acceptable time would be to start at 7.30 a.m. and have the dinner hour from 12.30 to 1.30.

The matter was discussed at full length. Some of those present stated that they had communicated by telephone with the other manufacturers, who were in favour of the times named.

Mr Owen Parker moved, and Mr Jos Knight, jun., seconded, that 7.30 a.m. be the time fixed for commencing work all year round; that the dinner hour be from 12.30 to 1.30; and that in the afternoon the hours of work be from 1.30 to 6.15; Saturdays, 7.30 a.m. to 12.30.

This was carried unanimously.

On the motion of Mr Ballard, seconded by Mr C Claridge, a vote of thanks was passed unanimously to the Trade Union officials for taking the initiative in this matter.

Mr Owen Parker, in supporting the vote of thanks, asked that it should be supplemented with a vote of thanks to the Union officials for the use of the room.

This, too, was carried.

Mr Bates and Mr Bazeley replied, stating that it was a great pleasure to meet the manufacturers and regretting that the Manufacturers' Association was not stronger in numbers so that they could meet more often for legislation on matters affecting the boot trade n the same way that they did in so many other shoe centres. They thanked those manufacturers present for their attendance, and believed that the decision arrived at that morning would be to the mutual advantage of the employers and employed. They also promised to notify the other manufacturers of the decision of that meeting.