THIS DAY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3631, 6 October 1890, Page 2

THIS DAY.

' [ByTelegraph], . Wellington, Monday, When the Conference resumed this morning, Mr D, P„ FisLer (Chairman) said they had sat Saturday, Sunday, aud this morning, but he was sorry to say no definite settlement had been arrived at, A basis of settlement was submitted by the Labour delegates, to Mr McLean, but Mr McLean could not see his way to accept the proposals. The following was the basisl. The Delegates agree to submit to their prinoipals the bisis of settlement conditionally upon Mr McLean pursuing a similar oourse, as follows; 2. That all competent hands at present in the employ of the Union Company bo admitted to the Unions without ballot upon payment of entrance fee, 3. That

the Union Company undertake to recognise the Mercantile Marino Officers Association and the Seamen's Union undertake to recognise the new Shipmasters' Association without prejudice to either body, and that membership in either body bo

considered for mutual recognition. L That all persons dismissed or called out be reinstated. 5, That in future none but Union men be

employed whore the rules of any | Union provide for this, except under , exceptional circumstances to be ; hereafter agreed upon. G, That a bond be agreed upon between both parties, guaranteeing that no Btrike or lock out shall take place for one year or such other period as may bo agreed upon, Mr McLean gave as his reasons for refusing the labor proposals, in first place, that the basis submitted would bring the parties back to exactly where they started beforo the strike. When tho Company took on freo labourers they pledged themselves to keep on' those men under certain conditions, and he had made it clear on many occasions that whatever happened the Company would stiok to the men at present in their employ, In the second place thabasisput the Company-in the position of compelling their men to join Unions, and he could never , accede to that, as the labour party , had made up their minds to stick to the determination not - to allow Unions and Non-unionists to work side |by side. No good could be obtained by sticking here any longer, as they were only stringing people on to expect a settlement of the difficulty when non 6 could be looked for. The Directors of the Union Company were big-hearted, geuerous lflen,' and did not wish to take any ' advantage of the Unions, but they

really had nothing to give the in return for what they cqhW Rive the Company, Ho thought the thing ought now he allowed to die down. Mr Millar said his party had done everything in their power to effect ft settlement, hut it \p of the opinion throughout New Zealand that the non-unionists should not work with the unionists. That was the rock on

which they split, and from first he feared such would be the result. It was very ovident the employers were now taking up an aggressive position, and the labour party were now in stem reality placed on the defensive,

His party were quite contented to sit down and watoli tlio progress of events for say a month or six woeks, when perhaps both parties would be in a better mood to come to a settlement.

Most of pie delegates spoke at pome length, and deplored that no settlement had been arrived qt. The opinion, wag oxpressed that Unionism would still go ahead, and the evident attempts of employers to crush unions would be iar from successful. At 12.50 the Conference adjourned till 10 a.m, tomorrow, when -it will probably be formally closed.

A Caucus of tho labor party hai boon oalM for this afternoon (c consider the position.