HANDSEWN ARMY BOOT AND SHOE TRADE— Since our last report, in response to the representations of the hand-sewn army boot and shoe hands the local army boot and shoe masters have made a further advance of a halfpenny per pair, making the price 2s. 7½d. The Raunds Co-operative Boot and Shoe Manufacturers have, we understand, gone a step further, and are giving 2s. 8d. per pair for best hand-sewn army. Trade was never in a more flourishing condition than it is now. Everybody is overdone with work, and good hands are in request.

The Hand-sewn Army Boot and Shoe Trade — A general meeting of the hand-sewn army men of the Raunds section of the Amalgamated Society of Boot and Shoemakers was held at “The World Upside down” on Saturday evening last. Mr. J. Underwood took the chair, and there was a good number of the members present. An appeal to the Union to support them in the enforcement of certain wages statements having been made by the following sections of Amalgamated Society of Boot and Shoemakers, viz “The City Women’s,” “Leicester No1,” “Oxford,” “Paddington,” and “Rochdale.” These wages statements and voting papers were sent from the Union to the members of the Raunds section to consider and vote upon for or against. — After some little discussion a unanimous vote was given by the section in favour of giving their support to the demands of the several sections mentioned. Having done this the chairman reminded them that they must complete the list of officers for the Raunds section that evening. This was at once done, Messrs Haxley and Marriott being appointed trustees, and Mr. W. Busby investigator. Mr. W. Bolton, the secretary, then read a letter from the general secretary to the Union expressing the pleasure it gave him to hear from Mr. Stacey (the deputation sent from the Union the other week), of the excellent spirit that pervaded the men at Raunds in their movement to establish a section of the Union in their district. The necessity of such a step being taken by the shopmates engaged on army and other contract work had long been felt, and he sincerely hoped the present effort to do so would meet with the utmost success. The work made at Raunds was not only a necessity, but it had been hinted in the House of Commons that sufficient hand-made work could not be obtained, and he believed that no matter who obtained the contracts, the work would have to be principally manufactured in this district. Their work, therefore, being in great demand and an absolute necessity, why he asked should they permit contractors without the slightest consideration for the rights of labour (beyond what they themselves think fit to give for it) regard the wages of the workers as the only thing employers could cut one another upon. This was an anomaly no body of men should for a moment permit to exist. Without going to extremes or precipitating matters to an issue, it must be evident to the most unthinking among them that the present low and uncertain rate of wages for many articles made was uncalled for, and that by united action amongst the men at Raunds a decided improvement might gradually be brought about without injury to the employers and with great benefit to the workers. Past experience of what had been accomplished by combination amongst their class was a sure guarantee that beneficial results would accrue from their affiliation to the Union if prudent and well considered action was always adopted in carrying out their aims. (Cheers.) After the reading of this letter some routine business was transacted and the proceedings terminated with votes of thanks.

THE HAND-SEWN ARMY BOOT AND SHOEMAKERS WAGES STATEMENT.
No answer to the wages statement sent to the employers in the Raunds district last week having been received, Mr. J. Under wood and Mr. G. Smith, the respective chairmen of the Raunds and Ringstead sections of the Amalgamated Society of Boot and Shoemakers, were appointed as a deputation and waited on the masters for their reply to their circular wages statement on Tuesday. On Tuesday evening a meeting was held in the Temperance Hall, Ringstead, to receive their report. The delegates stated that they visited the, following masters in Raunds:—Messrs. J. K. Nichols, J. K. Smith, O. Smith, J. H. Clark, J. Horrell, and the Co-operative Society. With the exception of Mr. J. K. Smith, who was from home, and the Cooperative Society, who would send an answer, all were willing to meet the men with other employers. At Rushden and Higham Ferrers, Mr. Denton and Messrs. Parker and Co. were visited. They considered it right that masters and men should have an understanding, and thought they ought to be paid better for their work. They agreed to meet the men with other employers. At Finedon, the Tingdene Society, the Finedon Obelisk Co-Operative Society, and Mr. Claypole, were visited. Messrs. Hawthorn & Parker were out but the rest agreed to consider the matter and let them know their decision. The delegates stated that the masters were under the impression that the men wanted the rise at once, but they gave them to understand that the men did not intend to force the wages statement under the present contracts. It was resolved to meet the masters at the Coffee Tavern, Raunds, on Saturday afternoon next.

THE SHOE TRADE—A deputation from the Raunds Branch of the Rivetters and Finishers' Union, consisting of Messrs. W. Cobley, F. Abbott, and J. W. Clark, visited Irchester on Monday last to assist Mr. D. Stanton, of Northampton, in forming a branch of the Union for that place. The meeting, which was well attended, was presided over by Mr. Thomas Coles. The Chairman opened the proceedings in a brief speech, and was followed by Mr. W. Cobley who gave reasons why a branch of the Union should be formed at Irchester, and how it happened that the Raunds branch had been called upon to assist Mr. Stanton at the meeting. Mr. Stanton then addressed the meeting at considerable length, explanatory of the principles and objects of the Union. A number of questions were asked and satisfactorily answered by Mr. Stanton. The enrolment of members was next proceeded with and a good number joined. The officers elected to act pro tem were: Mr. Slater, secretary, and Mr. Spencer George, treasurer. [more about the Union under Rushden]

THE HAND-SEWN ARMY BOOT AND SHOEMAKERS—The members of the Raunds section of the Amalgamated Society of Boot and Shoemakers held their monthly meeting on Wednesday evening at the "World Upside Down" Mr. J. Underwood in the chair. The ordinary business was transacted, and a number of new members were admitted, making a total of nearly a hundred.—The chairman then gave in his official report of the meeting, of masters and men, and complained of the uncourteous manner in which the masters left the meeting. He said Mr. J. K. Smith had got a stabbing machine and also a stitching machine to stitch hard jack boots with. Much disapprobation at this was expressed by the workmen, and it was unanimously resolved, by those present not to take any of these boots to last and sew and get ready for this machine, and it was further resolved convene a special meeting of the section at an early date, so that the resolution might be adopted by the whole of the members.—With regard to the wages statement, the men resolved to stick to it and agree to no compromise. It was decided not to send a deputation to the War Office, but to leave it to the secretary to communicate with the Director of Contracts and tell him they could get plenty of handsewn army boots done if the masters would pay the price asked in the wages statement forwarded. It was resolved on the motion of Mr. J. Mayes to send 10s. from the section as a contribution to the loan of £20,000 about to be sent to the Australian workmen on strike. Resolutions to assist the Chelsea and Worcester sections to get an increase of wage were also unanimously passed. The wages statement for army work was again referred to, and the circular forwarded to Mr. C. Robert Spencer M.P., Mr. A. C. Morton, M.P., and Mr. C. Bradlaugh, M.P. They sent letters stating that the matter should receive careful attention, and they would be pleased to give what assistance they could. A letter was also read from Lord Burghley M.P., who stated his inability to offer any assistance, but hoped the difference between employer and employed would be satisfactorily settled without outside interference. This answer of his Lordship was not satisfactory to the men. Some communications were then read from the Executive Council in London and the meeting then closed.

The Rushden strike band visited Raunds on Monday afternoon and played round the village. A large number, attracted by the music, assembled in the streets, and collections were made along the route for the Rushden and District Strike Fund.

ARMY BOOT AND SHOE TRADE — A special meeting of the Raunds section of the Amalgamated Society of Boot and Shoemakers was held at the World Upside Down Inn on Saturday evening last for the purpose of appointing a deputation to wait on the director of army contracts. There was a large muster of workmen present. In the absence of the president, Mr. J. Bates was elected to preside.—The secretary, Mr. W. Bolton, said he had received a letter from the general secretary of the Amalgamated Society in London, stating that the Executive Council of the Society had agreed to take steps to have a deputation wait upon the head of the contracts department to lay the case of the army shoemakers before him, and that a series of questions would be drawn up by the council and submitted to the Raunds section for them to answer, so that the case of the army shoemakers might be put in a concise manner. The general secretary, after animadverting on the conduct of the masters towards the men at the recent joint meeting, went on to say that the conduct of the Raunds Productive Society's representative in acting like the others at the said meeting ought to be brought before the committee of the society, as such conduct as his was a discredit to any Co-operative Society and ought to be repudiated by the members who sent him. The question of combination work in hard jack boots then came up, and it was stated that the masters intended giving only 1s. 4d. per pair for lasting, sewing, filling up bottoms, and getting them ready for the stitching machine. — Mr. Whitney said he was in a position to state, that for hand sewing and getting the hard jack boot ready for stitching and sewing the sole and piece-sole on round the heel, one of the employers (Mr. J. K. Smith) was prepared to pay two shillings per pair. Several questions were asked of Mr. Whitney respecting the boot and the work, which were fully answered. The question was then left open for the men to do what work they found answered their purpose best and was the most remunerative. — The question of the pay of army closers then came up. It was considered that they had been left out in the cold long enough, and it was unanimously resolved to ask the Executive Council whether the Raunds section could have power to admit female closers into the union. It was stated that the Raunds manufacturers only gave 3½d. per pair and hemp for army shoe closing, whereas the Wollaston and Finedon Co-operative Societies were sending the work to Raunds and giving 4d. per pair, and that as long as their wives and families could get 4d. per pair they would not do it for 3½d. The Raunds section was stated to be now over 100 strong. After transacting some business matters the meeting closed.