CONCILIATION BOARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 210, 4 September 1900, Page 5

CONCILIATION BOARD.

THE FLOUR-MILLERS' DISPUTE,

The Board of Conciliation for the Auckland district met yesterday afternoon in connection with the friendly dispute between the local flourmiU opei-atives and their employers. The Rev. A. H. Collins presided. Mr A. Rosser and Mr 'Walsh i-epresented the Operatives' Union, and Mr Virtue (Northern Roller Mills) appeared on behalf of the millers.

The. Chairman read a letter from Mr Justice Martin (Judge of the Court of Arbitration), stating that the millers' dispute in the South stood over until it was seen what those engaged in the business proposed to do in Auckland, but that should the matter come up again he would bring Mr. Collins' letter,, before the parties. Mr Virtue said there were sixty mills down South, and only three here. It was absurd to think that three mills here could fix the prices for the rest of the colony. After discussion it was agreed that the Chairman should forward a letter to Judge Martin, enclosing the agreement already arrived at by the employees and employers, explaining the situation in Auckland, and stating that the parties to the dispute In Auckland were willing to draw up an industrial agreement based on the Judge's award. The Board then adjourned till the 20th inst., by which time it is expected the Judge's reply will be received.

The following is the agreement between the millers and the employees, which is to be forwarded to Judge Martin: "We, the undersigned employers and employees, have agreed that we are willing to abide by the ruling of His Honor Judge Martin, provided we are put on exactly the same footing as our 50 to 60 Southern competitors are. We are confined to the Auckland district for the disposal of our output, and cannot encroach on our competitors' ground, as the back freight is prohibitive, but they can on ours, owing to the bulk of our wheat being imported from the South. We use only local coal for steam purposes, which gives a lot of employment in that line, and are doing out utmost to encourage wheat-growing in the Auckland district, and it will please you to learn that our farmers are now paying more attention to wheat-grow-ing than in the past,—(Signed) P. Virtue, Manager Northern Roller Milling Company, Limited; Bycroft,- Limited (James Hume, manager), S. C. Brown, J. B. Hoyes (president), and F. G. Walsh (secretary Flour - millers' Union)."