TERMINATED ABRUPILY

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1928, Page 4

TERMINATED ABRUPILY

CONCILIATION CASE. A QUESTION OF PROCEDURE. WELLINGTON, August 28. The Conciliation Council proceedings in the Wellington Operative Butchers’ dispute, terminated suddenly to-day before the proposals for an award were discussed, a deadlock arising on the question as to whether the council should go into committee. .

After the names of the parties hatj been read Air A. AY. Croskery moved that the Council should go into committee.

Mr B. L. Hammond said lie must object. There was no reason why it should. Mr Cjroskery persisted. Mr Hammond : AVe have no intention of taking part in any council that is in committee. Air Croskery: You can shut up the council as far as we are concerned. Mr Hammond : AA’e don’t propose to go into committee. Mr Croskery: Then that finishes it, If you throw the gauntlet down we will accept it. Mr P. Hally (Conciliation Commissioner) said that personally lie would rather, go into committee with the representatives. Aft- Hammond said he wanted to take up a legal position that there was no power under the Act to enable the council to go into committee.;

Air Hally said the Act had been stretched a bit to give the country people a chance. He did not think there would he much harm in going on

Air Croskery (to the Commissioner): AVe are throwing the onus on you, an 1 you know that we have,gone into committee) hundreds of times under your chairmanship. AA'e are ■ certainly not sitting in a council packed full of the other side and with conversations going on with a whole lot of people who are not assessors.

Air Hammond said there were peoul iar circumstances.

Air Croskery: A’ou can’t put the re sponsihility on us. There are eight people here and we do not propose to allow, conversations to go on among people who are not parties to the dispute. Air Hally suggested that in view <•' the fact that some men had come from tile country the proceedings might be continued.

Air Hammond: T want to appeal to the common sense of the other side. This is probably going to result in a good deal of ill-feeling between the parties. Air Croskery is the only man I have any difficulty with on the question of procedure. All- Crrskery: I am not going to let that go without replying. The only difficulty lie has with mo is when 1 tin> k he is trying to “ put one across me,” and T.e had to get up pretty early in tin- naming to do that. T will do wh.ir. i ll ink is fair and equitable. Air Hally: I do not know what the leason is, hut whenever Mr Croskery and Air Hammond meet it is a very difficult matter to come to an agreement. I don’t know why. 1 expect both are actuated by the very host of motives. Ah- Hally suggested that the parties might talk the matter over, as lie was reluctant to give a decision. 'file employers withdrew, and upon their return Air Hammond said that they were unanimous that the proccodings should he rallied out in accordance with (he Act and regulations. They were not prepared to go into committee.

Afr Croskery said that his men wished tiic proceedings to be in committee. Air Hally said he was very sorry that it devolved on him to express an opinion. Both sides were fairly well represented, and under the circumstances ho thought it advisable that the council should go into committee with the agents. Air Hammond expressed regret at the nature of the decision.

Air Croskery said lie thought the Commissioner had made a perfectly fair decision.

Air Hammond : I think it’s finished. Air Hally suggested that an adjournment might he taken till 2 p.m. Afr Hammond: As far as 1 am caned rued the decision is final. Air Daily: That concludes the business. lam sorry it has been terminated in such a manner. It is the first time in my experience that such a thing has happened. 1 will rclor the matter to the Court, and I dare say that his Honor will give some direction of procedure that should be adopted, if needed in the luturo.