PEACE ADVOCATES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1899, 6 November 1913, Page 9

PEACE ADVOCATES.

MORE NEGOTIATIONS. NO FREE LABOUR BEFORE FRIDAY. (By TelcgTaph.—Prass Association.) Auckland, November 5, A deputation, consisting of Messrs. Ernest Davis, Allen Bell, T. W. Leys, G. Elliott, Bishop Cleary, and four members of the Strike Committee, waited upon the Mayor to-day to ascertain if it was not possible to briiig about a settlement in Auckland. Various spokesmen placed several requests before tho Mayor and said that- a chanco should bo given for further negotiations, with a view to a settlement before tho position got worso. If it wero at all possible to effect a settlomont the deputation urged that this could only be dono by not employing just now frco labour on tho wharves. It was not judicious to bring special constables from tho country on to the waterfront or into Queen Street for the next day or two. The deputation also requested the Mayor to approach the IJmployors' Federation of Auckland with a request that it would dispens'o with its demand for a settlement under the Arbitration Act. Representatives of tho strikers remarked that if the Huntly strike was settled it would materially assist towards a settlement of the local trouble.

Tlio Mayor, in reply, said that with regard to free labour ho wished it to ho understood that he was not concerned with that factor. It was fnr tho employers to decide what labour they shall employ on tho wharves. Tn def'erenco to the wishes of tho deputation, ho saw no harm in postponing tlio introduction of freo labour until after Friday. 'With regard to tho special mounted police, ho would represent to the authorities that they should not appear on the waterfront or in Queen Street until Friday morning, at any rate. This would enablo tho deputation to see if it could take any useful stop iri tho direction of a settlement. "Of course," said the Mayor, "if there is any violence attempted by the strikers, or others, in tho meantime, tho mounted men must bo brought in at once. If, as a result of your negotiations, you can seo no prospect of settlement, I am afraid that I cannot interfere further to prevent tho mounted men from coming t""' n and adequate protection to t.io community and to those who wish to work upon tlw wharves. With regard to the proposal that I should appl'oaori the Kmplnyors' Federation, ! can onlv say .that T was in communication with members of that body this morning, and that the Auckland Executive oi the I'.mployors' Federation has informed me that the employers in Now Zealand are acting together in this matter, and have decided that the time has como when tbey must havo some juore satisfactory

working conditions than thoso which have obtained under agreements which recognise tlio Federation of Labour. In view of the reply which I have received from iho employers I am satisfied that there will lie little use in my approaching them again. If, howevor, the deputation holds strong views on this matter, it is open to them to go direct jo I he' Employers' Federation, which will no doubt lie ready to receivo them.