THE MEDIATION PROPOSAL.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14835, 28 November 1913, Page 8

THE MEDIATION PROPOSAL.

VIEWS OF FEDERATION OF

LABOUR EXECUTIVE.

WILLING TO SUBMIT TO

ARBITRAMENT.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

WELLINGTON, November 27

The executive officers of the United Federation of .Latour to-day stated that they had read the proposal made b"y Sir Joseph Ward in Parliament yesterday that each party to the present industrial conflict should, bo invited to submit its caso unreservedly to the arbitrament of-Sir Joshua Williams. These officers, speaking on behalf of the Federation, expressed their willingress to have the whole-,, dispute submitted at once to his Honour's uncontrolled discretion. They, further said that the Federation . had always been willing' to invoke an impartial and intelligent tribunal to determine the terras upon which the present great struggle should be terminated, but" throughout the employers' representatives had been actuated by. a spirit of determination to allow no arbitration save on the condition that the "Waterside "Workers' Union must come under the Arbitration Act. "The employers' real purpose ■ was to " persist in the struggle in tho hope that Labour might be permanently brought to its knees, and forced to accept in the future whatever terms the employers chose to dictate,'* it was added- "The members of the executive of the Federation therefore welcome Sir Joseph's proposal because they believe in the justice of their: cause. They expect no more than justice, they -want no more than justice, and justice they know- they would get from such a judge as Sir Joshua Williams.. Whatever ho decided after hearing evidence, and on whatever point he gave his decision, the Federation would cheerfully abide by and regard as binding. The Federation therefore felt that Sir Joseph Ward's proposal offered a fair test of the sincerity of the employers' belief in their own cause. If the Federation was agreeable to this unrestricted arbitration, and the employers refused io agree to it, then surely, the public would iriake the inference that the emoloyers dared not face an enquiry jand a decision by a judge in whose integrity and judgment the -whole of this country reposed the completest confidence." If the employers' representatives

would agree to this proposed method of settlement, the officers of the Federation expressed the opinion that arrangements couid be made for the immediate resumption of work by the waterside workers, and that upon resumption they had no doubt the other unions who were on sympathetic strike would see their way to resume work too. As regards the Prime Minister's statement by implication last night, that tho Federation had refused to refer the dispute to a Supreme Court judge, the officers of the Federation gave this an emphatic denial. No member of the Government, they declared, had made any proposal to the Federation that the dispute should be referred to arbitration.

(SPECIAL TO "THE PBESS.") WELLIXOTON, November 27. With reference to the statement of the Executive of the Federation of Labour that a proposal for arbitrament by Sir Joshua Williams had not been rejected by them, it is pointed out that the following is an extract from a letter oh the subject addressed to Mr W. A. Kennedy, chairman of the Shipowners' Association, by Mr W. T. Young, chairman of the Strike Committee, and President of the Federation of Labour; —"Respecting Sir" Joshua Williams, the men are of opinion that there is only one thing to arßitrate upon, and that is whether the agreement shall be reinstated or not."

This makes it quite clear that the offer for arbitration was made by the Government, and that Sir Joshua Williams was the arbitrator suggested.