CONFERENCE BREAKS OFF.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1898, 5 November 1913, Page 6

CONFERENCE BREAKS OFF.

MINUTE & A HALF. STRIKE DELEGATES REJECT ' ' ARBITRATION. NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE. Tho conference between representatives of employers and strike representatives resumed at 2 p.m. yesterday, according to arrangement, but- sat only for about a minute and a half. A deadlock was reached when the employers' representatives demanded that any agreement arrived at should bo registered under tho Arbitration Act. To this the representatives of tho strikers would not agree, and the conference broko up. The breach between the parties, according to tho best available information 1 , is complete, and there is no present prospect of negotiations being resumed. Protection of Free Men. Now that-tho attempts to promote a settlement of tho strike hav© failed, the noxt move ivill bo to open tho port and work the wharves and shipping by free labour. This, it is understood, will be attempted _very_ shortly, but a, reporter

who made inquiries was informed, on reliable authority, that the attempt will not be made to-day. When the subject was mentioned to the Prime Minister last evening ho remarked: "The Government has to protect people lawfully engaged in carrying on their business. It is the duty of tho Government to do so." Ah Unofficial Account. From an unofficial sourco it was ascertained that th-e conference sat yesterday for just a minute and a half. Mr. W. G. Foster, on behalf of tho employers, so statement goes, said that they would insist irpon tho registration under tho Arbitration Act of any agreement reached. Mr. W, T. Young, on be-half of tho Federation of Labour, asked whether this was final. Mr. Foster replied that it was. "Then so far as | wo are concerned, it is no use going on," said Mr. Young. Tho Primo Minister now vacated the ohaifj and tho delegates left the room. _ It is understood tliat at tho four-hour i sitting of the conference on Monday i evening the delegates had before thora two main proposals. Ono was to provide guarantees for tho maintenance of an agreement and penalties for breach thereof. The second proposal was that mutual guarantees should be given that a. conference of representatives of the employers and the Federation of Labour should bo held prior to any strike or lock-out. Tho latter proposal, it is stated, was only put forward tentatively, A Prlvato Population. The Prime Minister was interviewed niter the conference broko up yesterday afternoon by a deputation representing the shipowners and other employers - interested in tho watersiders' strike. Tho proceedings wereiiiot open to the Press.