MR. HUGHES & EMPLOYERS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1926, 8 December 1913, Page 8

MR. HUGHES & EMPLOYERS.

ANOTHER APPEAL. BRIEF AND POINTED REPLY. EVIDENCE OF MISR EPI? I3SBNTATION. The full text of the cablegram sent bv Mr. Hoghos to Mr. W. G. FosW, chairman of Mm Employers' Defence Committee—the anaiu points of tho tnessaep wore telegraphed bv the Press Association—reads as follows ''Cable received. Coniere-noe regrets exceedingly your refusal to submit question to arbitration. It notes repetition of statement that there js nothing to arbitrate, about, and again emphasises ilio obvious fact, as any unprejudiced person will admit, that'there is most serious industrial dispute now existing. Conference notes your unyielding attitiule t and greatly deplores* it. "lour statement that right is 011 your side only appears to conference additional reason why you should submit case to arbitrator. "Your statement that you are irrevocably bound to Arbitrationists inconsistent with that reasonable .spirit necessary at this juncture. We also aro irrevocably committed to exactly opposite position, yet wo are prepared to submit whole question to arbitrator. .Why not you alsoP

Conference generally confirms the position as previously cabled, and again •requests in the interest of all classes Dominion and Commonwealth that tho matter bo forthwith determined as suggest pd. "Wo have cabled Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward, requesting than to use their influence with you in this direction. "With reference to your statement cabled to-day's press referring to attitude of New Zealand Labour Federation towards industrial agreements and stating that Federation does not regard these as binding, conference desires to say first that Now Zealand delegates to conferenco deny accuracy of your statement, and have supplied its with doeisraontary evidence ill support of their statements. "We are, however, cabling direct New ,Zealand Lalwur Federation calling attention to tho matter, asking them to publicly state their attitude hi regard to it. "As for tho attmrdo of conference, wo have again to state tho position as according to previous cable, wo believe binding forco of agreements and will loyally earrv out any to which wo enter, including the present.—W. M. Hughes." Employers' Reply, In reply to Mr. Hughes, the Wellington Employers', Farmers', and Citizens' Defence Committee cabled on Saturday as follows: — "The Defence Committee acknowledges receipt of your cablegram. In its incomplete knowledge of tho troublo on your side it would not presume to offer advice, and regrets that, from your misconceptions of conditions hero and your credenc® of misrepresentations, this ,eommitteo is unable to consider anything in the direction of tho advice you have tendered.—Foster."