REEFTON DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1559, 1 October 1912, Page 3

REEFTON DISPUTE.

' QUESTION, OF .ARBITRATION. (Before His Honour Mr. Justice Sim.) Mr. Justice., Sim heard argument again yesterday afternoon 'od the question of appointing; an arbitrator to deal with tho Reefton mining dispute. The matter was mentioned last Friday, and was adjourned nVitil yesterday afternoon to see if the parties could confer and come to some agreement on the disputed points. Mr. P. J. O'Eegan appeared for tha Inangahua Miners' Union, while Mr. W. P.ryor appeared for the companies. Mr. Prvor reported that a conference had been held between Messrs. O'Regan, Dowgray, Pagan, and-himself, but no agreement had been arrived at. After referring to the. attitude taken up by. tho union, Mr. Pryor stated that he was prepared to submit the names of two or three desirable persons, . who would act as arbitrator, and he would leave it to the Court to say whether it was fair that one should be appointed. His Honour intimated that the matter was really in the-hands of the companies, as he could not 'appoint an arbitrator unless they submitted the names. . Mr. .O'Regan again submitted that the matter.was not,one for arbitration. The union could not honestly agree to abide by the decision if an arbitrator were appointed, but no objection would be offered ' to the matter being adjourned. Mr. Pryor asked for an adjournment ujitil after the Warden next sits at Reeftoii. . The matter was adjourned until Friday, November 1, at 10 a.m.