CONCILIATION COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 290, 27 August 1918, Page 8

CONCILIATION COUNCIL

BREWERY WORKERS' DISPUTE. A meeting of tho Conciliation Council was held yesterday morning to consider the claims for increased wages and improved conditions tiled by tho Wellington Brewers, Bottlers, Bottle-wash-ers and Aeraied Water Employees' Industrial Union.

The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. W. Newton) presided, and the assessors were: For the employers, Messrs. T. .Madden, P. Phipson, and E. T. Taylor; and for the workers, Messrs. John Cunningham, D. Bayley, and W. T. Burns.

The employers put in a counter-claim that the existing-award be continued with tho following additions:—Enginedrivers, first-class certificate, 12s. per day; second class, 11s. per day; firemen. 10s. per day; and that the award shall supersede the Wellington Industrial District Engine-drivers Award of Juno 26, 1918, ae far as it relates to workers covered by the award.

Mr. W. A. W. Grenfell announced that he was present as agent for the employers.

The Commissioner stated that he understood that the union was desirous of carrying on with the. assessors only, and thought it would be better in a matter of this kind for all parties to agreo. Mr. Cunningham said that it would he impossible for them to carry oii with Mr. Grenfell present.

■Mr. Grenfell did not think Ur. Cunningham was able to judge the position. If he found by experience that it would be impossible to carry on that would be a different matter, but to say in advance that it was impossible was illogical.

Mr. Cunningham pointed out that there were three assessors appointed by each, and Mr. Grenfell was present as the employers' agont, whiqh pave the employers an advantage, and was not fair. .

Mr. Grenfell suggested that ire proceedings should go on, and if it wero found impossible to get on iho cr.inicil could go into committee. "In the meantime Mr. Cunningham Mas no cause of complaint, and if vho ui.ion comes unrepresented by an agent it must do without one."

Mr. Cunningham: "It is puroly and simply a matter of policy on out- part." Continuing, he said he had nothing against Mr. Gronfnll. "We have come here in all good faith, and we should be allowed to fight it out. As we have no agent of our own, wo should finish the business quicker without all this wrangling about an agent." Eventually Mr. Cunningham moved that the council go into committee, which was carrind urinnimoHslv.

Mr. Maddpii: This is no reflection on Mr. Grenfell.

Mr. Cunningham: No. En ie'ono of t.hp most upright men in town. . But I don't think it is right—in fact, we know if; is not right—to have four nfriMiist three.

The proceedings of tho council wero then carried on in committee.