CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 134, 28 November 1911, Page 2

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

PAINTERS AND DECORATORS. A sitting of Liu? Conciliation Council of_ the Taranaki and Northern Industrial Districts was held in the Borough Council Chambers yesterday under the presidency of the Commissioner (Mr. T. Ilarle Giles), for the purpose of hearing an industrial dispute between the Tara° naki Painters and Decorators' Industrial Union of Workers and the employers in New Plymouth, Waitara, Inglewood, Stratford, Eltham, llawera and Patea. The assessors for the employers were Messrs. F. 0. Uellringer, L. <S. Tarrant and L. 0. Hooker; and for the union, Messrs. F. Reyling, P. Cornwall' and W. Cooper.

Mr. J. Sole (Stratford] had been appointed one of the employers' assessors, 'but as he was unable to act Mr. L. 0. Hooker, Hawera, was appointed. In opening the proceedings the Commissioner pointed out that in this case a new award was asked for. In considering it he suggested that they should discuss the clauses seriatim. Some objection might possibly be raised by the employers that there was no dispute between the union and the employers, as the union had not prior to filing the disput made any demand of the employers which had been refused. The Act provided for this being done, so no doubt a technical breach of the regulations had taken place, but under a certain section of the Act he had power to deal with this. He hoped, however, that there would be no need for this, but that the assessors for the employers would agree to waive their objection, as was done in the tailoring dispute last week. The assessors agreed to this.

The Commissioner said that the onu3 of proving tlio claims lay on the union. No doubt during the discussion attention would be drawn to other awards, 'but it would be better to mutually agree to consider the case on its merits. One pleasing feature was that there were no advocates on either side. There were three practical men as assessors, who would no doubt put their hearts into the matter, and thus they would 'be able to deal with it in a businesslike manner and settle it in an impassionate way. Some little doubt had arisen as to what standing the New Plymouth painters had in the matter, as they had already made an application of their own for an award. Ho had wired Wellington on the matter, and had received a reply that as the Taranaki Union embraced New Plymouth, the latter coud not be registered unless the Taranaki Union agreed. Consequently New Plymouth must be included in the present award. ■Some discussion then took place as to exemptions and additions of other parties. It was resolved to exempt Messrs. Wesley Hooker and A. Lovegrove (New Plymouth), J. C. Montefiore and Adams and Day (Hawera). The question of joining additional firms was held over, it being pointed out that they could be joined when the award went to the Arbitration Court for confirmation.

Mr. Hooker wished to know whether the dispute emanated in Taranaki or Wellington. One of the union assessors replied that it emanated from the working painters of Taranaki, who got the union to take the matter up.

After further preliminaries the Council adjourned till *2 p.m., when evidence was taken in committee. The Council resumed at 2 o'clock, anil a large number of clauses were agreed upon at the time of adjournment! The remaining clause* will bo further considered at 10 o'clock this morning. It is anticipated that a full settlement will be arrived at.