EMPLOYERS' MANIFESTO.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 5 November 1913, Page 5

EMPLOYERS' MANIFESTO.

A STATEMENT OF THE CASE. APPEAL FOR FREE LABOUR. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Wellington Employers' Committee has issued the following manifesto regarding the waterside workers' strike: — "The Wellington Employers' Committee, wfcifo 1 regretting tho failiire of the negotiations to settle the . utK . fortunate strike now iii existence; intimates that cannot see it«,w>y to enter into any agreement with an organisation which refuses to register under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The employers throughout have been ready to resume operations at the rates of pay, and under the general working conditions which oibtained at the time of the strike, with a stipulation that the new agreement should be made for <a term of years, and should be registered under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and they regret that the delegates from the Waterside Workers' Union positively declined to entertain the proposal. Tho Act provides for disputes regarding the interpretation of agreements, etc., to be adjudicated upon by stipendiary magistrates,- with air appeal to the Arbitration Court, and is the only means provided by (law which power is given to decide*, disputes between parties to industrial agreements or awards, and to impose.penalties for, any breaches which .may be committed by either side. The committee, speaking in the name of the employers are more 1 than willing at all times to deal direct with organised unions j which are prepared to undertake, that, if the parties to any industrial dis- j pute cannot agree to the . terms, of i settlement that the matters in. dispute shall be settled under-conditions .'provided by, Industrial /Coifcili&tion and 'Arbitratidn Act, an&:th'e decision so secured shall be loyaHy aefcepted 'by both sides. As it is essential that the trade of the Dominion shotthJ?.'be carried"on,, it has.beeßtdeeidefl, that workers who are prepared to subscribe to the above conditions shall be employed forthwith under fully adequate protection, and to guarantee continuance of employment after the present troubles are over, to! those who perform their du iie§ : ly. Ordinary current rates of pay for waterside workers will be given in Wellington until normal donditions prevail. Satisfactory i' accommodation will be provided', free of charge; with a minimum wage of £2 10s per week will bo guaranteed by the shipping companies. As labour is urgently required, applications for, employment should ha made to the various shipping companies withdut delay."