THE AUSTRALIAN APPEAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1923, 4 December 1913, Page 9

THE AUSTRALIAN APPEAL.

ARBITRATION ASKED.

LABOUR CONGRESS CABLE.

SETTLEMENT URCED. In reply to cable messages forwarded to the Hon. YV. M. Hughes, president of the Australian Labour Conference, now being held jii Sydney, Mr. W. G. Foster (chairman of tho Employers', Farmers', and Citizens' Defence Committee) has received the following message by cable:—Your cablegram set ling forth the case for Wellington Employers', Farmers', and Citizens' Defence "Committee was received and brought before a conference representing "industrial organisations_ affected -and likely to be affected by New Zealand labour troubles. So far as the cablegram deals with tho history and development- of the dispute it is not necessary to comment, thereon, beyond the remark that- your statementis 111 conflict with that furnished eonloronco by Labour Federation. No useful ptn-po.se would he served by attempting to deal with the matter 'from this_ standpoint. Without, therefore, calling in question any of your statements or thoso of the Labour Federation as to the origin and history of the dispute tho conference, representing over 200,000 unionists, called together for the express purpose, of dealing with this un-fortunate-industrial trouble- faced tho situation as it exists to-day. The Pica ?or Peace. .It is not to be denied that the. situation is most serious. The original causes of the dispute arc not now material. Tho fact that- a dispute, already sufficiently disastrous mvX threatening to become much more so. exists is beyond question. It has aiteeted New Zealand for some weeks, and still affects it. Its influence has extended Commonwealth of Australia, and threatens to assume alarmnig dimensions. Wo can hardlv believe tliat any considerable section .'V sires a coiuinuanco of present conditions. We are quite sure that the overwhelming bulk of the enmmnnitv considers it is high time that industrial peace i was restored. With those, if any tnorn be, wiio desire- a continuance of industrial turmoil, on whichever side t-ucv be, wo have absulntely no sympathy. We believe in unionism, .ind all tnat unionism stands for. Wc desire industrial peace. We beb'evo in the settlement of industrial disputes bv arbitration. There is n disnnte Itought to ho at once peacefully' settled.

Sir Joshua Williams Named,

To your contention that there is no dispute; that there is nothing loft to submit to Sir Joshua Williams"', or anv other arbitrator.; that the Federation of Labour cannot bo recognised, and is to be destroyed, wo cannot for 0110 moment assent. That there is an industrial dispute, that it- affects a very targe number of workers in Zealand, and will shortly affect a still larger number 111 ti:e Commonwealth unless it is at once settled, is obvious to any unprejudiced person. As for tho Federation of Labour, it, contains thousands of the best workmen in New Zealand, and we cannot consentto their destruction. Upon whoseshoulders tho blame for tho present unfortunate condition of this trouble i 3 to be placed: whether it is unwise and rash counsel on 0110 side or too hishhanded action and provocation on tho other, .we do nob presume to say. Wo are laced with the- situation. It is none of our creating. Whoever is responsible, c early we are not. We desire to end the present troublo with tho least possible delay, but to ignore it, is not to eiw it, I'eaco is not to be obtained by saying that, there is nothing to arbitrate about; or feliminations against the. Federation of Labour. There is a dispute; there is something to-arbitrate about.. Until this point is settled, to tad; of industrial peace is to live in n tooi s paradise. In lh c best interests of all parties, wo consider that tlie present stato of affairs 'in New Zealand cannot and ought not to be allowed te continue.

"We flppoal to Both Sides."

Ac, therefore, recommend that tho whole matter be referred to Sir Joshua Williams or any other arbitrator acceptable to both parties. His decision to bo final on all points, including the employment of labour; and the con- ' icrence, on behalf of the unionists of Australia, pledges itself to loyally abide by the result of such arbitration: and as from the date of tho appointment of the arbitrator, to resume normal working conditions in the New Zealand transport trade; and it recommends and expects tho New Zealand Federation of Labour, to whom this proposal is communicated, will similarly pledge itself. In any case we do so. This, then, is the proposition wo venture to suggest to both parties to this dispute. ' "\Vehope it will commend itself to them and to the people of Now Zealand. We do not, in any way comment on events that liave led up to tiio present position, or attempt to decide who is to blame. We fully recognise that very strong feeling exists; but wo make an aopcal to reason. However the dispute" arose whoever is to blame for it, it is here ■ its eftects are disastrous; and not a day ought to be lost in settling it. Our proposal is reasonable, practicable, covers every phase of the matter, and takes eftcct- immediately. Wo appeal to botn sides to accept it without delay. Conference requests that von should have this communication published 111 New Zealand papers for general information. W. 31, HUGHES.