NO COMPROMISE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 833, 3 June 1910, Page 5

NO COMPROMISE.

SHEARERS' WAGES. THE OLD ORDER OR THE NEW. " VERY DANGEROUS POSITION." (Ey Telegraph—Press Association.) Christchurch, June 2. The industrial dispute between tho Canterbury Shearers' Union and Canterbury Sheepowners' Union of Employers was heard by the Council of Conciliation this morning. Commissioner J. R. Triggs presiding. The assessors for the employers were; Messrs. D. D. Maefarlane E. B. Milton, and C. P. llugonin, and for the workers, Messrs. F. W'addell, A, J. Iving, and C. Johnston. Messrs. W. Pryor and W. E. Griffen appeared for the employers, and Mr. M. Laracy foi the workers. The case had been brought by the employers, who had formulated a num-' ber ot demands. In reply to Mr. Milton, the commissioner said that the present dispute had nothing to do with shed hands or cooks, and although he would like the parties to discuss their conditions, it would be quite informal, as those workers would have to be the subject of a different dispute. The parties proceeded to discuss the clauses in the demands, and speaking in regard to the demand for a reduction of wages from 18s. to 17s. Gd., Mr. Laracj said that it would bo useless to discuss the matter, because the union was bound not to accept less than 20s. a hundred, machine or blade. Mr. King said that members of the union were determined, and had pledges themselves, that they would not sheai in the coming season under 20s. a hundred, no matter what award. The commissioner: Have you thought of the consequences': Mr. Laracy said that he had thought of the consequences. He held that where there was no engagement tliero coulc be no strike, and there was nothing in the award dealing with anything in the matter of prosecution, except a strike. He had carefully considered the matter, and was satisfied with the stand taken by shearers. It was useless to discuss the matter, because they could not agree. The commissioner said that he had noticed a paragraph in a paper to the effect that if the dispute was referred to the Arbitration Court, and the Court did not make an award to suit the union, the shearers would not apply for work at the commencement of the season. In his opinion,, this would be a very dangerous. position for the union to taka up. It would mean that if the Arbitration Court's awards were ignored, there would" be a danger of upsetting the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, which had done so much good for the workers. Ii the Arbitration Act was done away with it would provo very injurious to unionism; and things would revert to tlio old order. Strikes would take place, and would be, as in the past, very disastrous to the workers and their families. Everyone would admit that, both employer-, and workers. If the workers ignored t',9 Act, the whole thing would go back to where, it started, and the' men woulc? work for whatever they could get. It must be admitted that the Act had done an immense amount of good for me workers. He would like them to come to an agreement, or whatever the award of the Court might be, to stick by it. Mr. Laracy said that the union's representatives had no power to deal with tho matter. The union was totally opposed to strikes, but was going to refusi to make engagements. He had niuiiy letters from Australia, and he was endeavouring to prevent Australian shearers from making engagements. The commissioner said that if the union refused to work under the award, it ignored the Court. If one or two unions did that, the Court would be done away with. Mr. Laracy: If the Act goes altogether we cannot help that. We want 20s. a hundred. Mr. Pryor said that the commissioner's remarks were exceedingly apropos. The attitude of the -union was unreasonable in saying that whatever, the award wa; it would not be recognised, unless it gave exactly the demands of the shear<rs. While employers were anxious fc obtain their demands, they were pre, pared to abide by any award of the Court. There was grave danger in anj side flouting tho Arbitration Court which was what the union was doing. Its attitude was actually, if perhaps not legally, a strike. ' After further discussion, it was decided to refer the whole matter to the Arbitration Court.