WHY THEY DO NOT WANT THE PRESS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1081, 21 March 1911, Page 6

WHY THEY DO NOT WANT THE PRESS.

THE GENERAL LABOURERS. C A LETTER SENT TO TIUO MAYOR.' The unsatisfactory' termination to the ? arrangements made for a conference be- j tvreen the General Labourers' Union and f the City Council in regard to the matter ? of the pay of the men has led the kcc- s rctary of the union (Mr. M. .L Rcardon) < to address tiie following letter to the | Mayor (Mr. T. M. Wilford)l 1 am instructed to' place before you the following definite reasons why my union considers that it is not desirable that a conference should be held-wilh the press present:— s (1) It is not the usual custom or practice 1 on the part of public bodies to confer with claimants on matters of ne- j gotiation in public, but the. matter is * (later oil) discussed in public when the claims on either side arc brought to j the stage for final decision. j (2) That two sub-committees (having, no | powers of final decision) should not discuss matters of negotiation in public, as, by that means, the bodies represented might bo committed in argument to matter which they had never been consulted on. (3) That the proper business mode of conducting a conference is for a. full report to be taken of what transpires, and after such conference is over such Teport should be. confirmed by both sides, and presented to the bodies represented, when it may be made public. • - • " (4) That it is not the practice of the City Council to insist upon the press being present when a conference is* taking place between a committee of the council and property or other claimants. The presentation of matters to the public is secured when a report is presented to the council. We see no reason why a difference should bo made in the case of workmen's claims coming forward as a matter of business. (5) That the general custom ill practice for the settlement of industrial differences is to carry out the preliminary discussions in private (the Conciliation Councils do so), so as to avoid if possible manifestations of feeling and conflict, and it is only when the matter reaches a sftigo when open contest cannot be avoided that the press and public are invited to be present. (6) That we have no guarantee that the press report of a conference, such as it was intended to hold, would bo full and accurate, the press having its own bias and also limitations as to space. TVo desiro it to bo clearly understood that we do not in any way fear publicity. All. we ask is that our business shall be dealt with as the business of claimants in general is dealt with, and wi! again submit that, in the nrelimiliary stages particularly, it is desirable to proceed by way of a quiet, friendly talk, and not a public contest, if the 'conference is to be given a fair clnnce to do business.