JOCKEYS’ DISPUTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10614, 12 June 1920, Page 10

JOCKEYS’ DISPUTE

RACEHORSES HELD UP MAHENO’S SEAMEN LEAVE CHAMPION ON WHARF. A Press Association telegram from Auckland states that the racehorses LochelK and Graftella, owned by Mr R. Acton-Adams, were to have been shipped to Sydney by the Maheno on Thursday evening, but the seamen said they would refuse to take the horses unless they received permission from Hie union executive in Wellington. This permission was not obtained. The general secretary of the Seamen's Union was communicated witn, but without the desired result; consequently the steamer sailed without the horses, which wore loft standing on tlnf wharf, where they were iu readiness for being placed aboard. ■ Mr Adams, in conversation subsequently, said ho was quite satisfied trom what ho had seen and heard that the men on the Maheno were good sports, and would have taken the horseu it the issue had reeled with rhem. NO SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATION NOT RECOGNISED. A further attempt to arrive at a settlement in tho dispute between the Jockeys’ A-ssociation and the racehorse owners lias been made by *-ho calling of a conference between representatives of the parties, hut the proceedings have proved abortive. Thn conference, which was held at Wei lington, was summoned under tho Labour Disputes Investigation Aot. Mr P. Hall}, by appointment of the Government, presided; the owners were represented by Sir George Clifford (Christchurch) and Meters U. Hannon (Auckland), and J. S. McLeod (Hastings). The jockeys wore represented by Messrs Q C- Sheath (Auckland;, H. W. Davies (Christchurch) and W. A. Ryan (Auckland). The jockeys’ claims included a minimum wage of £i os per week (lees JUT if hoard and lodgings were provided), tho limitation of apprenticeship to three years, a ecalo of racing fees, and preference of employment for members of the association. It was asked that, the provisions of tho Workers’ Compensation Act should apply to jockeys. Tho conference proceedings were conducted in committee, but a statement was made by the chairman at the termination of tho meeting.. After some general. discussion, said Mr Hally, the representatives of the owners decided that they could not .see their way to engage in further discussion or to recognise the Jockeys’ Association. Their objection to recognising the association was based on the following grounds;—That a very large section of the jockeys had intimated to various owners that they had as far as possible severed their connection with the association; that among those who .had given the intimation mentioned wore many of the most prominent horsemen in the Dominion; that 'it wae not considered desirable in the interests of racing generally that a combination of the character of the present association should receive recognition. The representatives of the association contended, in reply, that they had a legal standing, and that though a number of the original members had resigned, some had nince seen fit to reconsider their position and had rejoined. The association’s representatives further claimed that they still possessed in their ranks an overwhelm mg majority of the jockeys of New Zealand.

“I was compelled to suggest,” said Mr Hally, “that there did not seem to ho the slightest possibility of _ tho parties being able to make any joint recommendation that would overcome tho difficulty, and at my suggestion the meeting dispersed. I promised to report as early ns possible to fho Minister in charge. I still think that if the parties understood each other a little better something might be done which would benefit both sides. I intend to make some effort in this connection before 1 leave again for Auckland.’’