WORK AND WAGES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2024, 8 March 1907, Page 2

WORK AND WAGES.

AN ABORTIVE CONFERENCE. Press Association. , CHRISTCHURCH, last, night, A conference between the local freezing companies and the slaughtermen was held to-day. At the close of the conference Mr. IV. Murray, manager of the Christchurch Meat Co., speaking for both companies, said that no satisfactory result had been arrived at. The companies expressed complete readiness to discuss the men’s demands, provided any matter upon which it might be found impossible to agree should be admitted to the decision of tlite Arbitration Court. That, however, was met by a unanimous declaration by both the executive of the Union and the delegates present that they, individually and on behalf of the bodies whom they represented declined absolutely to submit in any way to the decision of the Arbitration Court. It was felt by the representatives of the freezing companies, Mr. Murray stated, that further discussion was useless under such circumstances, and the conference therefore terminated. The companies do not express any opinion as to the demands made by the men or their Union, but they consider that any arrangement should be settled and affirmed under an award of the Court. The real point at issue is whether disputes between employer and employees should ho settled by the method of striking, as at present attempted, or by the system of arbitration provided for by the Act. No settlement could bo effective and no conference could be other than futile unless disputed points should be mutually referred to the proper tribunal established for that purpose. The companies still adhere to the offer made last week that if the men return to work they shall he paid retrospectively from the date of starting work any rate of pay awarded by the Court. The men are as one in the statement that nothing will content them but the rate of 2os a hundred for freezers, which they have been demanding since the trouble began. The extra money will be more necessary to them than ever now, they state, on account of tho fines inflicted by the Court,