CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 May 1918, Page 8

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

SITTING IN HAWERA. A sitting of the Conciliation Council in tiie Taranaki Hotel Employees' dispute, adjourned from New Plymouth on the 20th inst., was held in Hawera on Wednesday. The Commissioner (Mr. T. Harle Giles) presided. The assessors for the employers were: Messrs J. H. Pagni (secretary of the Auckland Licensed Victuallers' Association), W. P. Kirkwood (Stratford), and E. Whittle (New Plymouth); tlio assessors for the employees were Messrs A. Jackson (secretary of the Auckland Hotel and Restaurant Employees' Union), P. Walsh, and D. lU'Carthy (Auckland). The Commissioner inquired if there was any chance of settling the dispute before the council. Mr. Kirkwood replied in the negative. It was then, decided to take evidence. Mrs. Cramp, licensee of the Central Hotel, was the first witness, who .produced the time and wages book. She gave evidence at length as to the working of the staff. Mr. Jackson pointed out that the class of evidence led by him would have to go before the Arbitration Court, and by taking it now it would avoid the necessity of calling the witnesses again. The evidence was proceeded with, but it was not long before the two sides again came into conflict, the employers' representatives threatening to withdraw. An adjournment was then made. Upon resuming, Mrs. Cramp continued her evidence.

Evidence was also tendered by Messrs J. C. Harrington (Railway Hotel), T. C. (Jormley (Egmont), P. Pederson (Empire), J. Kelly (Dominion), and Mrs (Commercial). The" Commissioner asked if there was any possibility of the parties coming to an agreement in relation to the dispute before the council. Messrs Pagni and Jackson replied that there was no such possibility. The Commissioner said that, under the circumstances, there was no alternative but to refer the dispute to the Arbitration Court. Mr. Jadkson, in the course of his ro« marks mentioned that nearly every ".ase which had come before the present Commissioner had Ibeen settled, and he suggested that the law should be amended so as to give the Commissiouej more power. Mr. Whittle suggested thai in ftiturs disputes the union should appoint at least one assessor who was acquainted with the local conditions. Mr. Kirkwood endorsed Mr. Whittles remarks. •Mr. Jackson replied that he had no power over the appointment of assessors This was decided by the executive. Personally, he had no objection to 1 the proposal. The Commissioner, in thanking the as-l sessors of both sides for their vote ol thanks, said he, was favorable to more power being given to the Commissioner, I provided it was tempered with certain | restrictions. He was entirely agreeable to a suggestion from Mr. Whittle and Mr. Kirkwood, that in future disputes at least one assessor representing the union of employees should be one who was acquainted with the local conditions. The sitting then closed.