AWARD DISPUTE

Hokitika Guardian, 31 October 1932, Page 5

AWARD DISPUTE

STRAIGHT TALK BY AN EMPLOYERS’ ADVOCATE (Per Press Association — Copyright.) WELLINGTON, October 30. Some straight speaking was indulged in to-day by Mr T. 0. Bishop, the employers’ advocate, when the dispute ,n the engineering industry was continued before the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr W. Newton. Mr Bishop said that it was impossibe for New Zealand to maintain permanently a higher standard of living than that which was obtained in Britain, which was the country that New Zealand had to rely upon to buy her products. He was quite prepared to admit that there was something wrong with the social system which had brought about the present state of affairs, but that did not alter the domestic position in New Zealand. New Zealand was absolutey dependent upon overseas markets for the consumption of a large proportion of its products. “If prices do not rise within the next twelve months, we are done!” said Mr Bishop. “We are all hoping that there will be a rise in prices, but unfortunately, there is no reason to believe it is coming quickly. I have been’ hoping that when the new export season commenced, things would im* pro.e, but apparently, there is not much to be hoped for this year.”

He pointed out that wool had fallen Id a pound as compared with this time last year and fat lambs, which had been the only source of profit to many farmers, had dropped from 8 1-8 per pound to 4 7-8 and 5d per pound. There were just enough bright spots on the horizon, however, to encourage the employers to carry on.

NO AGREEMENT reached, engineering trade dispute. WELLINGTON, October 30. No agreement was reached at the Conciliation Council on Saturday in the engineering dispute. Expressing regret that the negotiations had failed for the present, Mr T. 0. Bishop, the employers’ advocate, said that the only thing for the parties to do was to continue as best they could without an award. In most districts satisfactory agreements had been entered intlo. Although some trouble had occurred at Wellington, work was there if men : wanted it. The employees refused to waive the proposal to insert in the new award a clause classifying the workers into their various sections of the industry, thus preventing the members of one section from doing work of other sections. The employers claimed that' this ,would raise the manufacturing costs in the Dominion. This instanced the vital factor wages played in all standing costs,

FREEZING WORKS’ POSITION, CHRISTCHURCH, October 29. New conditions of employment in the freezing Works in Canterbury will be enforced by the employers at mid" night on Saturday, November 5, according to notice served on the Canterbury Freezing Works and Related Trades’ Union by the South Island Freezing Companies’ Association. The indications are that the employers terms will not be acceptable to the men,, and a deadlock similar to that which has occurred in the North Island will local works.

TROUBLE OVER LOADING MEAT NEW PLYMOUTH, October 31. . When loading operations began this morning on the liner Norfolk, the watersiders accepted the call but refused to touch meat from Waitara on the grounds that it had been handled by non-unionist® in the works. The meat was railed back to Waitara.

The loading of dairy produce on both the Norfolk and the Tainui continues without interruption. The Norfolk’s meat allotment was 20,300 carcases, and was all from Waitara.