THE SHEARING IMPASSE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 874, 21 July 1910, Page 4

THE SHEARING IMPASSE.

■. ■ —.' ' » . [ .POSITION ON BOTH SIDES. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.! , Christchurch, July 20. The general secretary of the Shearers' and Wool-shed .Employees' Association of Workers to-night lorwarded the following telegram :to Mr.. Taylor, M.P.: — "Tho employers absolutely decline an unfettered cpnference as suggested by you, therefore we must withdraw the invitation with regret.—Laracy." Mr. Laracy states that the employers would only consent to the proposed conference if the union signed a guarantee that members of the union would accept the . minimum rate fixed by the conference or Court. Mr. H. D. Acland, of the Sheep-owners' Union, when seen to-night stated that Mr. W. Pryor was to have seen the Minister for Labour to-dav to ascertain the terms on which the delegates to any con- '• ference that might, be held were to meet but up to a late hour to-night, no reply had been received from Mr. I'ryor, and so far as the Canterbury Shssp-owners' Union was concerned, the position was the same as at the close of the fruitless and informal conference held in Christchurch last Thursday. Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.P. for Christ. chiiroh North, has received the following reply from the Sheep Farmers' Federation:— . ."With regard to the suggested conference in connection with the shearers' dispute, I have to advise you that the New Zealand Sheep Farmers' Federation .is ■ not prepared to consider the proposal uutil the executive of the Shearers' Industrial Association authorises its delegates to de.il with .the question of price, and to ■ accept .such price as may be agreed upon between 17s. 6d. and 20s. inclusive. It will also be required that the. executive, should give a written undertaking that its association will not take any steps to interfere with-workers accepting work at the minimum agreed ' upon at the conference. "Tours faithfully, "WILLIAM PRTOB, " . "Secretaray."