THE SHEARING DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 873, 20 July 1910, Page 10

THE SHEARING DISPUTE

MINISTER ASKED TO INTERVENE. A CONFERENCE URGED. In tho House of Representatives yesterday, Mr. T. E. Taylor requested permission (which was granted) to ask the Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister for Labour) whether in view of tlio likelihood of further developments in connection with the dispute with reference to the rate of. shearing he would at once invite representatives of the , employers and shearers to meet in friendly, conference with a view to endeavouring to secure an amicablo settlement of the whole-

matter. Speaking with reference to his question, Mr. Taylor said ho would like it to bo treated as an emergency one in view of the fact that a considerable amount of friction was beginning to show itself between the parties. The present position had arisen owing to an application to the Court of Arbitration by the Canterbury • Sheep-farmers' "Dnion for a reduction of,the shearing rate, which at present stood at 18s. 6d. to 17s. (3d. He might mention that the rate paid for shearing in tho North Island was 205.. Tliero was clear evidence during the • discussion -in the House • last week that the sheep far-mers-were willing to consider any reasonable rate up to 20s. The threatened friction was likely to 'do most serious injury to the sheep farmers' interests. Ho believed that there were several industries, including xhe shearers', which might get better terms under freedom of contract than under the Court of Arbitration. ■ Efforts should, however, be made to prevent such a calamity as would arise if there was the serious friction that was threatened. The Hon. J. A. Millar said the matter was undoubtedly one of great importance, but the Government must bo careful to do nothing that would im--pair; tho efficiency of the Arbitration Court or the work of the Conciliation Commissioners. If both" parties asked him to intervene, arid.woro agreed to hold an unfettered conference, he would be glad to do what he could., The whole thing was rather deplorable, and he . believed' a , good deal of misunderstanding had arisen, but if anyone could' get 'among' the two .parties and talk common sense to them he believed a settlement could be effected. Mr. Taylor: AVill you issue an invitation to the parties concerned? ; Mr. Millar: I would not like to. The invitation should come from them. (Hear, hear.) If it came from both sides I would be quite prepared to take action.. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Taylor intimated that he would communicate ..with both sides, and see whether they would, agree to the proposed conference.

A TELEGRAM AND REPLY. IBy TolesraDb-I'ress Associatlon.l Chrlstchurch, July 19. To-night Mr..'lT. Lara'cy, general secretary of the Shearers' Union, received the following telegram from Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.P.:—, "Tlie- Minister for Labour, in answer to a question put by me as. a matter of urgency, expressed his willingness to preside over an unfettered and friendly conference between, representatives ,of tho shearers and.sheep farmers to mako an effort to arrive at an amicable settlement on the question of .rate- for shearing for the Dominion, and deal with other points, the settlement of which is likely to avoid deepening the friction evident by the Arbitration Court proceedings last week, and avert injury: to the important, mutual.interests of parties concerned. ■ The Minister will only act if invited to do so by shearers' and sheep farmers' representatives." - . In reply,-■ Mr. .Laracy sent the following telegram to Mr.; Taylor:—"On behalf of the shearers I invite Mr. , Millar to preside at a conference in Wellington on Saturday, if the sheepowners agree."

COUNCIL TO SIT .AT:PALMERSTON. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr.' P. Hally) has fixed Palmerston North, August 16, as the placu and'time for tho holding, of. a Council of Conciliation to hear two disputes ■in the shearing industry. In one case tho Hawke's Bay Sheep-owners' Union has initiated 'proceedings ■ against tho Wellington Shearers' Union, and has recommended Messrs. W. E. Griffin (Napier), j; Macfarlane -(Clive), and J. O'Neill (Waipukurau), as assessors. In the other case, the Wellington Shearers' Union has . filed the dispute, citing the New Zealand Farmers' Union and other employers, and nominating Messrs. J. G. Challis, R. Eae, und E. W. Abbott as assessors for the workers.