THE UPSHOT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1718, 8 April 1913, Page 6

THE UPSHOT.

IN SLAUGHTERMEN'S DISPUTE. CONCILIATION TRIED. THE MATTER TO GO TO COURT. " As the result of .a round-tlie-tablo dis- : cussion between the representatives of tho AVellington Meat Companies and the. old AVellington Slaughtermen's Ull- , ion (011 tho citation of' the lat- ■ tor body) before the Conciliation Council, the matters in dispute were referred to the Arbitration Court, tho employers' representatives refusing to discuss anything with the union. The companies' representatives, were:— Messrs. \Y. Pryor (general secretary of the Employers' Federation), W. H. Tripe (Gear Meat Co.), and E. D. Sladden (Wellington Meat Export Co.j. Tho union's representatives were Messrs; F. Niull, H. I'earce, 0. Tancred, and M. J. lleardon (secretary of tho union). Initially the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. W. Ilally) said that he understood that tho appellant union would accept the conditions' agreed upon by the men at present at work at the Gear and Meat Expoi't Company's works. Mr. Reardon: Substantially so. There aro some points that seem to me to bo open for discussion. Mr. l'ryor: We are representing tho. whole of the meat compauies in the Wellington district. I am instructed to.say that these companies have considered tho matter and they liave decided that I should intimate that the companies are not prepared to discuss the situation with the old union in ally shape or form. Tho local companies have entered into agreements with the other unions, and thero is nothing to be gained by such a discussion—that is our position. Our instructions aro definite upon that point. So far as wo are concerned thero is nothing' to be decided. 111 tho meantime if tho union is not prepared to accept tlio new agreement there is nothing to do but go 011 to the Court. Mr. Iteardon stated that the judgment of the Court was based on incorrect grounds. "The Court," lie said, "declared that we .were not prepared to use tho machinery of tlio Act. Here we are prepared to do so, and the employers aro not prepared to use that machinery . Mr. Pryor: That is hardly fact. Wis entered into an agreement' with the Union, and our advice was that the Department could not refuse to register the new union. Mr. Niall: You entered into an agreement with a union iliat was not registered, and. noiv yuu refuse to consider one that is. Mr. Pryor: Wo' are not entering into agreement wit'i unregistered unions, but with unions that have made application 5 for registration. The Commissioner: Y'ou people represent all the coiupaiies in the Wellington district, and havo iiiade up your minds that a discussion would be lutile. Mr. Pryor: I say definitely aM respectfully that we aro not prepared to discuss the matter with this organisation. Mr. Hally said' that, tho only thing then to do was to remit tho dispute to the Court. . • . Mr. Pryor: That seems the only thing to do. Mr. It-eardon: If the employers are not prepared to discuss the matter thero is no otner suggestion jto be made. Since the agreements havo been mude locally, why not go on and cut out the two Wellington companies? There are others in the country districts. '[ Mr. Tripe explained that tho other companies had taken up tho same attitude in latrncfs to tlio men who lmd come to their aw wnen assistance was needed Mr. lteardon: W'o do not contemplate intcrwioiKjo with, thoso men, ilr. Triiio: So tar as tho two AVellington companies are concerned, they havo made agreements with these men. Mr. Keardon: Well, cut out theso two companies. Thero is no' use discussing a second agreement with ttcm. Mr. Pryor: Some of the other companies havo made agreements with the men, who have iormeit themselves into unions, and have applied for registration. If. tiiese applicati 'lis' are. granted these new unions wilt be registered . In any, caso they havo intimated to us that they are not prepared to enter into any discussion with this union. ' The Commissioner suggested that the appellant union should mako known its proposal for.tho benefit of the country unions Mr. Tripe: AVo havo no authority to treat ivitn this at all Air. Pryor: if Air. Keardon cares to put anything into writing, I will see wnat can be done." Mi'j Reardon: "I have nothing to put in writing." lie added that the.union was uisposed to make use of tho machinery ot tne Act Mr. Pryor: "Just a littlo too lute, Mr. Ueanlon," Mr. Keardon: "As a matter of fact, 1 submit that, the statement inado by the Court was absolutely incorrect. The Court stated tnat ir registration had been mused tlio iNgiib.iuruiijju Union the ma. clnnery or tho Act wouul have been stopped. That is. a statement that cannot' Oe supported hy law. .That wo are hero proves that wu. aro prepared 10 stand by tire 'decision' of tho Court." Air. l'ryor: "lou will get that opportunity by taking .tile caso beiore the Court. We are quite prepared to accept that decision.-' , . The Commissioner once more suggested that the union's proposals sliouui bu submitted for the benent of thoso Companies who had not yet entered into an agreement. • Mr.-Reardon: "It is not >a question of individual unions or of conditions at all. That must be obvious to you, Mr. Comuussioiie;'." . ; Mr. Tripe: "Y'ou cannot say that. AA'e ' waited for three weeks to let your men conic in if they were willing to do so. •liven after free labour was engaged 011 the boards we kept a few positions for the members of the old union." Air. Keardon: "Wo are not complaining about what tho companies did. AYe fought the fight, and we were beaten, and wc are satisfied: 1 But the position taken up by the coinpaiifes is in contradistinction to tho British sense of fair play. They have the men down, and with their heels 011 their-nccks would crush them outright." I The Commissioner: "it appears to me that the old union, is practically out of touch altogether. Is the union prepared to accept the same agreement. as obtained between the local companies and tho - men?" Air. Reardon: "The conditions are not entering into the point at all. This is a question of unions." . Mr. Pryor: "And we say we are not prepared to recognise the old union." Jlr. Reardon: "I 11111 satisfied now that if members of the old union were to offer to go back at a less rate (less tliau 2"s. (id per hundred), they would not bo /taken on." A suggestion that the matter be adjourned was not agreed to. Finally the dispute was referred to the Aroitration Court. ■