POSSIBILITY OF PEACE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1896, 3 November 1913, Page 8

POSSIBILITY OF PEACE.

FEDERATION OVERTURES. THE PREMIER INTERVIEWED BASIS OF SETTLEMENT. ; STRIKERS RECONSIDER POSITION, Proposals for the settlement of tho trouble were adopted by a conference held yesterday morning, «t which wore present representatives of ©very trades union in tho city. Mr. E. Kennedy, president of tho Wellington Trades ana Labour Council, was voted to tho chair, and Mr. L. M. A. llearden Was elected secretary. ' Tho present orisis was fully outlined by the Federation of Labour delegates, and .the position was fully discussed. It was'resolved: "That this meeting considers that tho proposals now submitted by the United 1< adoration of Labour, as a basis of settlement-, are fair and reasonable, and urges upon tho Hon. Mr. Massey and Sir Jo, soph Ward to promote u furthor conferenoo between the parties, with a view to a consideration of those proposals; and that a delegation from this meoting wait upon Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward, to urge upon them tho need for calling the conference.'"' Tho proposals brought down by the Federation wero:— (1) That all waterside workers shall at once resume work on the samo conditions as were operating prior to tho cessation 6f operations, and that a conference bo immediately held between tho shipping companies and the parties concorned, for tho purpose of drafting a Jiew agreement. (2) That the presont national agreement be extended for a period , to be arranged, from date, to cover the water fronts of the Dominion, with a penalty, to ho arranged, for the stoppngo of work, as donned in Clause 28 of the old agreement. The following were appointed to wait upon the Prime Minister and tho Leader ot the Opposition:—United Federation of Labour, Messrs. W. T. Young, P. Hickoy,' it. Semple; transport department of the Federation, Mr, ii. Voyce; Dominion Executive of the United Labour Party, Hon. J. T. Paul; Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, Messrs. M, J. Mack and W. T. Wilson; Wellington Trades and Labour Council, Messrs. E. Kennedy and M. J. Iteardon; unaffiliated unioui, Mr. A. Parlano. As a result of the above conference a deputation representing the Federation of Labour and other organisations waited upon t'he Prime Minister and asked for another conference, and its members suggosted a basis of settlement which was .recently rejected bytho strikers. Sir Joseph Ward accompanied tho deputation. The other members of Parliament who attended wero Sir. P. 0. Webb and tho Hon. J. T. Paul, tho latter of whom introduced tho deputation, and in doing so asked the Primo Minister to arrange for another conference between representatives of the strikers and thoir employers if ho could possibly-do 60. The position was explained to tho Primo Minister by Messrs. W. T. Young, It. Sompio, and W. T, Wilson. Two proposals wero submitted, of which the principal one was tbat the proßent national or Dominion agreement bo extended over a period to be arranged from date, and that it' govern watersiders throughout tho Dominion, with a penalty (to bo arranged) for any stoppage of work. The deputationists pointed out that this basis of settlement was offered to tliem by tho shipowners less than a week ago, and at that timo turned down by tho watered© workers. Now they wero willing to accept a settlement on these lines, and they asked [ the Prime Minister to arrange for a ( conference between representatives of tho watersidc-rs or the Federation of , Labour and the shipowners.

Tho Rallwaymen's Position. Mi - i Wilson, 011 behnlf of tho Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, stated that tho railwayman saw a possibility of being, without their sanction, involved in the strike. They felt justified in (joing represented at tho meeting that day, and were requested to a company tho deputation to the •Prime Minister to ask juin to give consideration to tho proposals submitted with a view to terminating what looked likely t, bo a serious struggle. Dcslro for Settlement. Sir Joseph Ward explained that though he had como with the deputation he was not a member of it. It seemed to liiui, ho remarked, and lie said it with a full recognition of his responsibility as a public man, that at this time while Parliament was sitting, time should be given for a calm and lull consideration by the two parties concerned, with a view to seeing what was the best course to pursue .to enable tho strike to bo terminated. lie was sure that tho l'rime Minister was just as much impressed as himself with tho necessity of securing a settlement of tho present trouble. Ho said, Bpoaking for his party in tho House of Ivepresoiitativcs, that thoy wanted to sco trade and industries carried on ana peace restored between tho two contacting parties. 'Mr. Paul suggested that, in tho interim, tho Prime Minister should try to get an understanding with thoso responsible to arrive at a settlement' without tho employment of free labour.

PRIME MINISTER IN REPLY. MEDIATION PROMISED. Tho Prime Minister said that bo recognised tho .seriousness of tbo position that hail arisen, perhaps inoio than any member of tho deputation, and he would liko to remind thorn that it was becoming increasingly diflicult to arrive at a settlement every day that the trouble lasted. Not only tho two parties immediately interested woro concerned in this trouble, but tho whole of tho. public, and tho publio as a matter of fact wore likely to suffer more from wTTat was tailing plaoo than tho Federation of Labour, tho waterside workers, or tho shipowners. He reminded them that this had seemed likely to bo 0110 of tho best seasons that New Ssaland had ever experienced, and now it was impossible to calculate the loss that was being incurred directly and indirectly throughout the country, Ho could not say whether tbo shipowners and cmjiloyers would consent to another contcfenco, but lio was willing to ask them to do so. Anything that might bo done could not bo done hurriedly. He would to-morrow morning (this morning), as he had done beforo, ask tho shipowners and other employers to again _ meet representatives of the watoruidors. Ho

went on to say that so far as lio blow there was 310 |iiitention of Tesumhig work on tho wharves to-morrow (today), so that tho.ro was time for My deliberations that might be necessary, Mr. Paiil, 011 behalf of the deputation, thanked the Prime _ Minister for his courtesy in receiving it, and urged that tho proposed conference should b* held as early as possible. CONFERENCE IN PROSPECT. The position now is that thoro is every possibility of a conference between tho strikers and their employers being held to-day* Any settlement arranged at the conference would no doubt havo tj bo referred to tho respective parties for confirmation.

TRADES COUNCIL ATTITUDE. The position was considered at a meeting of tho Trades and Labour Council, held on Saturday ovoning, Mr. E. Kennedy, wlio prosided, said that they wished to consider the strike, in its relation to tho unions affiliated to the council. Ho and tho secretary (Mr. L. M. A. Eearden) had that morning received a deputation from the 'Waterside Workers' Union, and tho full facta had been placed before thorn. After tho facts had boon fully stated, the council pssßed tho following resolutions i— That this council urges tho shipowners and tho Employers' Association to renew tho offers whioh have just been withdrawn, and thus bring to a peaceful issue the prosent labour upheaval. That this council'enters an em- . pliatic protest against tho unnecessary display of armed force in this city, ana tho enlistment of irresponsible youths, who aro in themselves ■ a menace to the preservation of law and order.