CONCILIATION – ARBITRATION

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 247, 17 October 1919, Page 10

CONCILIATION - ARBITRATION

COMMENDATORY REMAKES. The value of the machinery provided by the Conciliation and Arbitration Act tor the settlement of industrial disputes was the subject of favourable comment at the Conciliation Council sitting , yesterday afternoon at. the close of the meeting, which resulted in a full settlement being reached in the shearers anu shed hands' dispute.

Mr. Grayndler, the representative of the shearers, in the course of the hearing remarked that the agricultural and pastoral interests were easily the most important in the Dominion, there being over 25,000 sheep owners and many, thousands of workers.

At the conclusion of the hearing, Mr. ■F. H. Labatt, as representing the sheepowners, said he -wished to express their hearty appreciation of the valuable assistaoce given by the Commissioner, especially in adjourning the -ease from Gisborne to Auckland, thereby facilitating the settlement of a dispute. He endorsed Mr. Grayndlert statement, and said that all those would now come under tie operation of this award, which wcraM. be uniform throughout the Dominion. He considered the settlement jnst arriyed at accentuated once more the ■usefalneee of the machinery for hearing disputes provided by the Legislature. The Conciliation Councils and the Arbitration Court stood before the public as just, independent and impartial tribunals, and all who wished the industrial, producing, and commercial life of the Dominion to be kept active should see that thoee tribunals were kept fairly established, and, if possible, guarded from unfair criticism. The Arbitration Court had done great work, and was essHy one of the most important instiluttions in the Dominion. Tie present economic conditions would greatly increase the responsibUitiee of Conciliation Councils and the Court. The surest way to ■uphold those valuable tribunals was for both parties to honourably abide -by the judgment of the Court. Mr. C Gra-vndler remarked that thie was the finality to a complete agteenmt covering the pastorsli industry for the whole Dominion, which affected eonw 25,000 sheep owners, and some thousands of workers, therefore it would be readily seen that not only was the settlement of the dispute an important matter, but it covered a greater number of persons than any other industry in the ■Dominion, He desired to extend his thanks to the Conciliation Commissioner for the valuable advice and assistance rendered in this vpry important dispute.

Mr T. Harl» Giles, in acknowledging the thanks him. said the fact that a. conrplete settlement had been arrived at in a dispute representing: an industry of imDortance to the iDomiiion was a matter for congratulation, and he felt pteuenre in havine in -arrr measure contributed to such a satisfactory result.