NO AGREEMENT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 March 1910, Page 3

NO AGREEMENT.

THE FLAX WORKERS' DISPUTE. Tl'Kn PMEB9 ABSOrUTIOK.} PALMKKSTON. March 11. In nceordanc© with the instruction, from the Arbitration Court, that/ the mill-owners and the employees in the flax industry dispute should meet in conference and en- ! deavour to fix the wages on a sliding scale, the jwrties to the dispute met at the office of the Mnnnwatu Employers' Association. The Flax Workers' Union was represented by Messrs Dalhouse, Whibley, Robinson, and Mclvor, and tho millowners by Messrs R. T. Bell, L. Rciiert, J. Liggins and E. L. Broad, while Messrs Scott, McCullou<;h, and Pryor also assisted in the deliberations. The conference sat till nearly midnight, but failed to come to. a settlement. An adjourn meat was then made till today, hut, though it sat right on till nearly five o'clock, still no settlement was arriveu at, and it was then decided to abandon any further attempt at an agreement, and to go back to the Coiirt. The union was particularly aim ons to secure an unconditional oreferonce clause to which the employ - era would not agree, and, though the conference got very close to an agreement, the preference- clause and the rates for switchings barred a final agreement. The fact that the parties could not come to an agreement will now be reported to the Arbitration Court, which will now have to frame an award.