SHEARING DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 832, 30 July 1910, Page 5

SHEARING DISPUTE

A PRELIMINARY AGREEMENTTHE THREE COMMISSIONERS' FINDING TO BE ACCEPTED. POSITION REGARDING SHED HANDS. , (By TelecraDh—Presn Association.) Christchurch, July 29. Mr. M. Laracy, secretary of the Shearers' Union, states, that the following agreement has been made between tho parties to the.shearing dispute:— .' "On-behalf of the New Zealand Shearers' Union and Now Zealand Sheepfarmers -we agree. to accept the finding.. of a board of inquiry consisting .of three Conciliation Commissioners, in; the same way as all workers and employers- within the meaning of the Arbitration Act are bound to accept' the findings of the Court; that is to say, we will accept the Commissioners' finding with no' limitations or conditions oi any kind whatsoever, other than those which are necessarily imposed by the ordinary language of industrial awards' and of the Act itself."-. Mr. Laracy. on beiUK interviewed, said:— ';••■■' "This is the . agreement drafted by the union itself in substitution of the. employers' proposals that it should bind itself 'to take no steps to interfere ■ ■with the shearers or prevent them from working for a minimum wage,' and it has now been accepted by the ers. It has also be?n arranged by Mr. Pryor (on behalf of the employers) and by myself (on behalf of the union) that steps should be taken to induce tho board of inquiry to sit in .Wellington within tho uoxl two or three weeks, and that a few representative witnesses should ha called by each party. In the meantime the Commissioner's will bo collecting any evidence which they •themselves think relevant. Their recommendations will be made to tne Court, and the Court will consider it at its Wellington sitting on September 22. Thus you will see that no definite agreement can bo made as to shearing rates and conditions until September 22.

"With regard .to the shed hands' dispute, the attached letter which was sent yesterday to his Honour Mr-. Justice 'Sim -summarises the present 'position, and I think I need not add anything to it to make the matter quite clear to the public." Tho following is the text of the. letter: — ' '..'•- "To tho President of tho Arbitration Court.

"Sir,—"With regard to the case of the shea hands considered by the Conciliation Commissioners yesterday, my union desires ,to know definitely whether or not the Arbitration Court will make an award in respect to these workws. Tho employers contend that the fact of the Court's having declined to make an award in the case of the farm labourers justifies them in assuming that the. Court will decline to make an award for shed hands, or indeed for any farm or station servants. Our objections to this contention are shown in the report of the hearing before the Conciliation Com-missioners,-which I understand has been convoyed to you by the Commissioner. Unless we know definitely that the Court is prepared to make an award, it is utterly, uselss my union going to the expense of conferring with the employers in the different industrial districts where cases 'have been, or are to bo, filed. We are quite prepared to let one case be heard as a Dominion ease, and have no "doubt that the employer!, would agreo to this. If tlie parties are willing to make this agreement, wo should be glad to know if the Court is prepared to settle the matter at its next sitting in Wellington, when hearing the shearers' dispute. Your Honour will see that a definite pronouncement now from the Court mil save tho country a largo amount . of expense in the holding of sittings of the Conciliation Commissioners in tho different districts only to put on record that the employers decline to discuss the matter of an award at all., If both parties are. sure that the Court mil make ; an award they will be supplied with the necessary incentive to tho making of'an amicable settlement, and merely asking'the Court to ratify the agreement made."-

A MEETINC OF THE FARMERS' VKIOU. .''•'_. Palmsrstcn N., July 29. ■ The Wellington Provincial Executive ' of the Partners' Union met at Palmer- " ston_ yesterday, Mr. J. G. Wilson (chairman) presiding. A large amount of correspondence in ' connection with the shearers', and shed hands' claims was dealt with, and the meeting favoured a Dominion award being, made for shearers. 'The demands of shed hands and' cooks, as made upon the Canterbury sheep-owners, were also considered. , The Shearers' Accommodation Amendment Bill was dealt with, and ■ objections raado to several of the clauses as being unnecessary, and as pressing unduly on small - settlers. The president was empowered to bring the ob-. . jections against the Bill before the branches of the union.