THE FERRY HANDS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1324, 30 December 1911, Page 6

THE FERRY HANDS.

AND THE DAY OF STRIKES. /THEY MEET THE EMPLOYERS. AND TJLL'X QUIT'THE ROOM. The dispute between the Ferry Company and their employees has advanced ono stogo forward, or backward. The men have not withdrawn their Ihreat to ccaso work on Jlonday unless their demands arc granted, anil tlio company have informed them that the demands cannot bo granted just yet. They Receive a Letter. Yesterday Jl.r. E. G. F. Zohrab. manager of the Ferry Company, under instructions from his directors, addressed a letter in the following terms to Sir. (I. li-'Farlaud, secretary of the Waterside Workers' Union, who is acting as ageut for tho ferry men:— "Tho men employed by the company are, apparently, not aware that they, and tho company, are still bound by tho provisions of ■ the Arbitration Award dated 25th Jlarch, 1908 (which award was the outcome of an agreement then mutually arrived at), and that they arc, therefore, still subject to all tho provisions of the; Arbitration Act. My directors fail to sec why your union has taken up'the dispute on behalf of the "men.- when (he union to. which they should naturally. - belong (and which, obtaiucd tho abovementioned award) is still in existence. However, in order that;, both sides may bo given opportunity to .state their position, my directors arc prepared to meet,the men themselves (and a representative of tho Seamen's '.Union if it be so desired) at the rooms of tho Wellington. Employers' Association, Woodward Street, this (Fri- . day) evening at S o'clock, or, if the men will agree to..the matter being deferred' until early in the New Year, my directors undertake to'. make any agreement ultimately arrived at as operative from''this date. I; shall be . glad to learn at your earliest convenience' whether tho men will.meet, tho . directors this evening as sug- , gestcd, or if they are prepared to leave ■ the matter to bo adjusted till'after : ■ the holidays." : .They Meet the Employers. , •■ln response to this invitation, Mr. Farlaud aud eleven of tho men met tho direerectors last evening. .Mr. A.. K. Mnbyn, for the company, pointed out that the men were still bound by the award above referred to, and that the coinpanv was liable forpenalties for breaches of it. Under the award it was-incumbent on the men to give fourteen days' .notice of cessation _of work, whereas they, through Jfr. Farland, had said that they would come out on Jlonday if certain claims were.not granted. He slated also that two of tho directors of the company holding the largest number of shares were absent from Wellington, and could not be consulted at ouce. The demands which the men made would involve an annual expenditure of d£lloo, aud they could not bo granted without increasing fares. It would be for t'ao board.to consider whether this should bo done, or whether the company should go-into-liquidation. Such an important proposal demanded serious consideration, and meantime the board would not grant tho demands. They would agree, however, to consider the matter within a reasonable time, and whatever agreement was come to would bo ante-dated so far as rates of pay were concerned to January 1. They Leave the Room. Mr. Farland thought that tho directors ought to agree-there and then to increase the wages, and to concede the other demands, but'as the-board could not come "to. any, conclusion that evening Jlr:' Farland and his men left tho room. An important part of the business ii tt* suggestion that tho Watersiue Vvoncers' Union will refuse to coal tho ferry steamers. • Mr R. Semple. organiser of the Federation of Labour, may, it is said, bo summoned to handle the strike, if such occur. The company hope to be able to carry on over "the holidirys. , /'' Tho position of the men is a somewhat peculiar' one. They are legally members of a now defunct organisation called the Federated Seamen's Union of Xew Zealand. This union was registered under tho Arbitration Act, aud it obtained an award from the Court. This award has expired, but it still, stands until replaced by a now award, or until tho registration of the union has been cancelled. The registration of the union has not been cancelled, however.