CONCILIATION BOARD.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9058, 18 February 1908, Page 5

CONCILIATION BOARD.

BUTTER WORKERS' DISPUTE.

NO APPEARANCE OF EMPLOYERS.

STRONG ALLEGATION BY UNION REPRESENTATIVE,

The Conciliation Board sat in Masterton, yesterday, to hear the claims of the Wellington Butter, Creamery, and Cheese Factory Employees' Industrial Union of Workers. • The Board was composed of Messrs P. J. O'Regan (chairman), A. Collins, H. Inniss, and A. H. Cooper. The Union was represented by Mr W. H. Westbrooke, and its secretary, Mr A. McWilliam. There was no appearance of any employers or their representatives. The Chairman of the Board asked Mr Westbrooke if he would like to make any remarks.

Mr Westbrooke replied that he would. He said he regretted that the employers had not seen fit to accept the invitation of the Board to attend and have an amicable conference. He also wished to make a statement regarding a meeting which had been held at Carterton, at which eight employees had attended. The meeting was convened by the secretary of the Union per circular, when the number stated put in an appearance. After a short discussion one of those present got up and made a statement to the effect that he was receiving £2 per week, and his week proved to be quite a 70-hour one. This employee said he was quite satisfied with his position, and also thought that the employers could not pay more. If they did it would be a case of abandoning the . n .ow and taking on the sheep. Mr Westbrooke said that some skilful cross-question-ing elicited the fact that this employee had come to the meeting primed up with the empolyers' ideas,and was also filled up with employers' whiskey. Under those circumstances the Union would not call witnesses. If the employers stooped so low as to fill employees with whisky for their own ends it was not worth while calling witnesses. The speaker continued that the Board had done its best for both parties, but the employers had not reciprocated. He urged that the Board should now make a personal inspection of Wairarapa factories and ascertain in that way what conditions the employees laboured under. He suggested that Parkvale Factory would be a typical one to inspect. Mr Inniss: Have you the names of the employer and employee to whom you referred concerning the meeting at Carterton. Mr Westbrooke: Not of the employer, but the employee's name is easily obtainable.

Mr Inniss: The reason I asked is because it is very easy for a person to make a statement of that sort when names are not mentioned. Mr Westbrooke: I am stating what is a fact.

Mr Inniss: Nevertheless, I take exception to the statement, as you have not named the parties you have accused.

Mr Westbrooke: lam not making accusations, but stating something which occurred at a meeting and which can be proved. The Chairman said it had been stated at Palmerston North by Messrs Harkness and Grenfell that several conferences had been held, and all had failed. Did Mr Westbrooke endorse that statement? Mr Westbrooke replied that Mr McWi!liam was present at the conference, and also Mr W. Fisher, who was now present -in the Courtroom. Both of these gentlemen could relate what had occurred. Mr McWilliam said he understood that at the first conference at Palmerston North Mr Fisher represented' most of the Wairarapa factories. The conferences were representative enough, yet nothing was done. The employers would not give way in any respect regarding the 'Union > claims for the classificationn of hands—the first claim on the schedule —and would discuss none of the succeeding, claims until this had first been settled.

The Chairman here interposed, and stated that at Palmerston North it had been stated by employers there that several conferences between employers and employees had ended in no advance being made. However, he had not taken the opinions of these gentlemen as conclusively representative of the whole body of employers when they averred that further conferences would be unavailing. The Board had decided *to hold sittings, and as an advertisement had set out they wished to discuss the matter in the true conciliatory spirit without having recourse to the compulsory machinery provided in the Act: As far as Mr W.estbrooke's assertion was concernel, he did not doubt that gentleman's veracity in the least, but he would, be sorry to accept that incident as typical of the desires of the whole of the employers. However, the fact remained that there was an industrial dispute before the Board, the proper tribunal to deal with the claims, and if employers refused to accept the cordial invitation of the Board on them would rest the responsibility of the increased expense to the taxpayers and the delpy in the settlement of the dispute. He would confer with tin Board regarding Mr Westbooke's suggestion to visit factories.

After ten minutes consultation the Chairman announced that the Board had decided to visit Parkvale factory. Mr Fisher said he could not understand what Mr Westbroooke's idea was, as Parkvale was the only factcry worked on contract. The Chairman replied that the Board would also visit another fac-* tory-