CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 132, 25 November 1911, Page 2

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

TARANAKI factory trade DISPUTE. AX AGREEMENT REACHED. A sitting of the Conciliation Council of the Northern and Taranaki Industrial Unions was held in the Borough Council Chambers yesterday morning, under the presidency of the Commissioner, Mr T Harle Giles, for the purpose iff hearing a dispute between the Taranaki Tailoring 1 rade Industrial Union of Workers and Ilmployers of New Plymouth, Opunake, AYaitara, Inglewood, Stratford, H'liangaaiomona, Eltham, Hawera. Patea and Kaponga. 'Upon the application of both parties, employers in Manaia and a number of others in the various town who were omitted were, by consent of the Commissioner, added as parties to the dispute, winch thus includes all employers in the tailoring trade throughout Taranaki. Tho assessors for the union were Messrs. P. L. Muir (Wellington) and F. U ainscott (Christchurch), and the employers' assessors were Messrs G. Steward (New Plymouth) and J. Stubbs (Eltham). There was a very large attendance of interested parties.

In opening the proceedings, the Commissioner pointed out that some slight irregularity had taken place in regard to the filing of the dispute, in the "fact that no demands had been made upon the employers prior to the filing of the union's claims. The Act evidently took it for granted that in order to 'constitute a dispute the employers must, previous to filing, have been approached as a body, and must have declined to accede to the demands of the union. Otherwise no dispute could really be said to have arisen. He, however, hoped that the employers would see their way to waive this objection. Mr. Stubbs. on .behalf of the assessors for the employers, said that he was quite willing to waive their objection temporarily.

The Commissioner pointer! out that the onus of establishing claims rested upon the union. He said the disputes differed somewhat from the majority of disputes that came before the Council on the ground that no award was in existence for the. tailoring trade throughout tlio wholo of the Taranaki district. This, therefore, was an application for a new award. Where application was made for an award to supersede another award the basis of operations was of course the existing award. In this particular dispute the basis of argument must rest upon the most recent awards throughout the Dominion in this class of trade. Doubtless each side would desire to pick out from existing awards those clauses most suitable to themselves. He ventured to hope that it would be possible to take some award in which the conditions and log might be found to adapt themselves to the Taranaki district. He also expressed the hope that by careful and calm discussion, without any friction whatever, it would be in the power of the Council to arrive at an amicable settlement of the dispute. In reply to a question put by the Commissioner the assessors on both sides stated that they had come to the Council armed with full power to act. A large number of workers had been subpoened by the employers to give evidence to the existing state of affairs, but before taking such evidence the Commissioner suggested that the assessors should retire and see whether, under the circumstances, the attendance of these witnesses could be dispensed with. This suggestion was adopted. On resuming the assessors stated that they had discussed certain points, and asked the consent of the Commissioner to adjourn the Council until 2 p.m. to enable them to discuss points raised with their respective parties. The Commissioner accordingly adjourned the Council. After an exhaustive discussion, lasting until nearly fl o'clock, a full agreement was arrived at between the union and employers. The settlement, as far as regards the male workers, is based mainly upon the recent Auckland award, and the female workers are provided for chiellv on the lines of the Nelson award of July last.

At tlio close of the proceedings Mr. .T. W. Stubbs, assessor for the, employers, moved, and 'Mr. P. L. Muir, assessor for tlio union, seconded a very hearty vote of (hanks to the Commissioner for the patient and able way in which be had conducted the dispute. The assessors for the employers also expressed their warm appreciation of the fair and reasonable manner in which the nssessors for tho union had put forward their claims.

Mr. Giles, in thanking the assessors for their kindlv remarks, said it afforded him much satisfaction to feel that he had the goodwill and confidence of both sides.

Mr. P. L. Muir, on behalf of his colleague. Mr. Wainscott and himself, expressed his thanks to the employers' assessors for the very friendly way In which thev had met the union, nnd sincerely hoped that the award now agreed upon would be found to work satisfactorily to all concerned.