FRIENDLY SPIRIT

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 91, 14 October 1932, Page 11

FRIENDLY SPIRIT

EMPLOYERS, AND .-''.' EMPLOYEES/ "

"The spirit of conciliation.-that: fcai been, manifest" at "this tabl£ has ' Been excellent, and it was that which mad* me prepared to meet the workers, even though I know.l shall get the strap when I.return to meet the employers,'* said Mr. M. B. Duckworth, one of "th» employers' delegates at;the dispute be< fore the Conciliation'; Commissioner,Mr. G. F. W. Gqhns, with regard to the boot operatives trade, near the dose ot the proceedings this morning. ■ '.'I want to jexpreas my. appreciation of the attitude adopted by, Mr. Watts and hit fellow-delegates."'- '■'-'. •

Mr. JiH; Ford, advoc&te for the employersj also" expressed; appreciation of the ■ conciliatory spirit- shown by- th» operatives. • • ; . . ■ • ; ; V-

Mr. c. A. "Wattsy advocate: for- the employees, spoke of -.the--manner, in. which the employers;had been prepared, to meet them, and paid' a special tribnta to the courtesy extended:.-to hint-by-Mr. Ford in agreeing to ■liie'et'&im ia. ebnf erence whenevervhe?wished.v ; v ■'- '.:-:■'

_Mr r Gohns also had •something to' say; with regard to the manner-in which'the proceedings had been conducted.. "I must say everything "' has"' been.put through in a most amicable and 'tdn-i ciliatory way," he said.' "The boot .trade, I think, was the first -" industry; to have an award under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and right, since that time everything . has been done in a conciliatory-way.- iXmi have had' hard -fights; but you have always had them in an excellent spirit. "■ He paid a tribute, to the 'manner- in. which Mr. Ford and Mr,' Watts had carried out their duties. ■ . • '

. When the last point had been agreed upon Mr. Watts expressed.rappreciatioa of the manner in which Mr. Gohns. had handled the discussions in'connection, with the dispute and had, shown the way :tri a settlement between- the parties. ■•,._.'■•::, r "

As an example of the friendly spiiit prevailing^ the question of • whether Boxing Day should continue' to b«: classed as a public holiday was decided on the spin of a coin by Messrs. Watti and Duckworth. ■ .-'-•: '