SHEARERS' UNION TELEGRAM.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 877, 25 July 1910, Page 4

SHEARERS' UNION TELEGRAM.

REJOINDER BY MR, W. PRYOR, The following is the text of a letter forwarded to the Minister for Labour by Mr. SV. i'ryor, secretary of the New Zealand Employers' Federation, in connection ivitii tlio shearers' dispute:— "Hon. J. A. Millar, Minister for Labour, Wellington. "Sir,—l shall be very much surprised to loarn that Mr. Triggs, Conciliation Commissioner, Christchurch, has suggested any such arrangement as that set forth in the telegram of the secretary of the Shearers' Union to Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.P., and yourself, published in this morning's papers (July 23). The proposal made would not give the three Commissioners power to settle tho matter. All that they could do would be to submit to the Arbitration Court a joint report on shearing rates now paid throughout the Dominion. The rates paid are perfectly well known to the two parties, and could be placed before the Arbitration Court by their witnesses in ten minutes on Tuesday next. Besides, there is no undertaking on tho. part of the Shearers' Union that it would abide by tho Arbitration Court award even if the suggestion were adopted. It is therefore a case of 'as you were,' as the proposal means nothing. When tho Shearers' Union Executive is prepared to give,a written undertaking that it will give its representatives a free hand to discuss rates of pay; that it will loyally abide by any decisions arrived at; and that it will not take any steps during the currency of the award to prevent workers making engagements to work at the rates fixed, the New Zealand Sheepowners' Federation will favourably consider any proposals made to bring about a settlement for a Dominion award. Until the Shearers' Union Executive gives that evidence of its honourable intentions in connection with the matter, 110 notice can be taken of any so-called proposals for settlement. "1 have the honour, etc., "WILLIAM PIiYOK, "Secretary, "N.Z. Employers' Federation."