THE OTAGO SHEARERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 945, 12 October 1910, Page 8

THE OTAGO SHEARERS.

-❖— — ' , -.; CONCILIATION [FAILS. (By Telegraph —Press Association.! Dunedin, October 11., Mr.-. Triggs, Conciliation- Commissioner, held a sitting of the Conciliation Council this morning, when an application was made by the Otago Shearers'■ Industrial Union of AYokrers for an award governing the wages of shed hands. . Mr. D. Costello appeared for the Shearers' Union, and the assessors were Messrs. S. Boreham, D. Boreham, and J.E. MacManus for the union, and Messrs. C. W. Rattray and J. Lethbridge for the sheepowners... , Mr. Lethbridge explained' that his side were not. prepared to discuss the matter which they wished, left'-to-the.Court; '-..'■' • Mr; Kattray assented in.this. Mr. S. Boreham drew attention to the power which made it imperative that the council should try to settle the dispute. The union ■' was prepared to meet sheepowners in the. spirit of conciliation, and come to a settlement, whether it was : a provisional one or not. ■ . The Commissioner said that the matter, rested entirely.with the'assessors. He had no say in it whatever. 1 Mr: MacManus said that if the dispute was not settled, tho squatters might find difficulty in : getting shearers ; to go out. They : wanted to deprive afew rouseabouts of some measure of protection and prolong'time, while ; they did.as they.pleased •■with-, rouseabouts I .' Why- should men -in the happy position-of being veryrioh (in\comparison with other.industries) come:to. i.the council in an unconciliat'ory spirit? The.union was' prepared to disonss the olauses. seriatim. . If: they were not disbussed, and considered on their merits, Seriatim, then bu of employers rested any struggle : that might ensue during' the coming- shearing season. :' '. ;. '; Mr. Costellb said that the union .was anxious to arrive at an agreement by.conciliatory methods.- '..'. . ■■■'~'•..■. ;. Mr. S. - Borehnm said, that he was sorry .that they had to: -retire without having even made an attempt .to settle the dis-. pute.. He trusted .that no serious trouble :would ensue by a-refusal of the employers to meet the union, and discuss the mat:ter, but it -.was,'a' serious position to take, ■ up, " and'..; was against the ■ intention .of Parliament 'when the Act-of Conciliation .was introduced.;, ; The onus., of a failure ■to arrive.at some, reasonable qonolusion rested ion. the. shoulders of the employers. '■ ' ■''.' i '.'.'■';.'■ -','■■-■:. ■':"' : /l ; The Commissioner: • I understand; then,. that':you fail:to agree'to the recommendation? ■'■ ■ ■>■ o '.-:".■■ ..-.' .*■■ '■ Mr.. ; MacManus: I suggest that we ,dis:cuss.:the clauses seriatim;. ,','., ~ '■■.' Mr;', Lethbridge: .We 'are: not,., prepared -to'do ..that'.'".- r ; ■' ! •■'' ; 'i'.'''','\ '■■ '■'•■■ .'. "'■ v' The Commissioner t'-Then we 'are unable ■to malcea recommendation to the Court;' >''•' Mr. S'. .Boreham: <We■ are _not unable; we are • refused the dpnortunity. ■■".■'•-!■;'-.'•'' .The Commissioner :T! one assessor.holds out, "that.is '.sufficient within .the Act.,' .-■ f Mr.. S. Boreham: .We ; are unable, owing" to the .attitude taken up by, the. employers, ;to arrive at' an understanding. ■ ;■:■.' <V;The;.Commision.er:>:That,iß"''so.'''. I: am ,sorry: that';'you;have:nbt''been:able;to" ; make a ;and, therefore, I; shall r'efer the dispute to the Arbitration :.;-■:' •.':■'■ ,':''.".;':!