ENGINEERS & U.S.S. CO.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1721, 11 April 1913, Page 5

ENGINEERS & U.S.S. CO.

CONCILIATION CASE, .. v - POSITION OF THE CRAIG LINE. (By' Telegraph'.—PrcEg Association.) Auckland, April 10. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. I'. 11 uric Giles) was occupied this morning in presiding over u conference between representatives of the Union Steam Ship Company and tlie Auckland District; Australasian Institute of Marino Engineers to endorse (lit 1 terms o£ un agreement, in nyineelioii with a dispute instituted by tlio Marine Engineers' Institute. Tho commissioner, in opening tlio proceedings, pointed out that (.ho case was Komcwlmt unusual, in so far that tlio claims appeared, in th'o form of a recom- ' ■Herniation from tho Conciliation Council, lie understood, however,, that tlio instituto wished to join the'Craig Lino in . connection with tho dispute. •Mr. Craig expressed the opinion that \; the court here did not havo any jurisdiction over tlio Craig line of steamers us tho head 'oflico and management of *sjf. i jino wero in Sydney. ■ Ml\ Hamia said that Mr. Craig wan 1 correct in his statement, hut, seeing that tlio company had a registered offlco in New Zealand, they had reallv tout nf > consideration to Mr. Craig) cited him , bccauso. tlioy believed that tho conditions under the New Zealand Award would ixi moro favourable to his company than any agreement which they would get in j Sydney. , 5 The commissioner observed that, in his ■'! .opinion, it would not ba advisablu to .loin tho Craig line in tho dispute, be- ; cause.there was no doubt that a legal 5 point was involved. AVhatever tlio judg- s lr.ent of the Higher Court might be. it i would bo final, whereas, whatever ruling ' ho might make, would l>o open to rejection by the higher court. He iuttnded. therefore, to decide aiot to join the Craig * line. This meant no intention on his ,1] part to prownt tho union from joining ■< these parties wlien tho caso camo before tlio Arbitration Court, as it would bo doing no injuslico to anybody, Ho was not taking away tho right of application Ic " the court. Tho commissioner added that the only thing remaining to Ixi dono was for thV lecommendatious to bo read over and' tiigned by tho assessors for tho court's ratification. This was done, and a copy- of tllft 1 j agreement was signed by the 'respcclivo L assessors for lodgment with the court. The agreement is similar to tho one in Wellington. .