The Shearers' Dispute.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9048, 14 March 1908, Page 5

The Shearers' Dispute.

WELLINGTON, March 13. The Conciliation Board met to-day to consider the Board's draft agreement in the shearers' dispute. The agreement, which was the outcome of the recent conference at Palmerston, was adopted with slight alterations. The employers were represented by Mr J. C. Cooper, of the Farmers' Union, and the shearers by Mr Abbott, secretary of the Shearers' Union. The Chairman of the Board (Mr P. J. O'Regan) congratulated the parties on the result of the conference, and said that it was quite clear that where there was a mutual desire for J an agreement a settlement was possible of attainment. It was only fair to make public the fact that after the conference sat at Palmerston North, the good offices of the labour members of the Board had been used to induca the members of the Shearers' Union to accept the agreement arrived at. Speaking on behalf of the employers, Mr Cooper said the recent conference was an exceedingly amicable one, and for his own part he did not wish to meet better men than the shearers' representatives. He wished to thank the members of the Board for the services they had rendered. Mr Abbott said the result of the conference was a triumph for the principle of meeting in conference to settle disputes. The Board's recommendations, which will be given the same effect as an award, will probably be filed to-morrow.