TRADES UNIONS SURPRISED.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 214, 8 September 1921, Page 7

TRADES UNIONS SURPRISED.

A GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT. (By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. Trade union officers in Wellington wnen interviewed after the. announcement of the Arbitration Court's award in the shearers' ca.se, declare that they are astounded at trie court's decision to reduce wages after tho stabilisation agreement of May last. They will shortly make a statement indicative of trade union opinion on the position. Meanwhile, they express the view that Mr. McCullough, the workers' representative on the court, has taken an honourable course in resigning because there has, in their opinion, been a distinct breach of faith. Judge F-azer's memorandum indicates reasons for regarding the shearers' award as outside the purview of the stabilisation agreement. His Honor says: "I am principally concerned with the average eheepowner, whose position to-day, in spite of comparative prosperity during the war, is exceedingly serious. I am satisfied that the case is one in which the circumstances arc extraordinary, and that it is accordingly not one to which our stabilisation pronouncement applies." It is, however, contended by trade union officers that there was an understanding, or as they term it, a "gentlemen's agreement," in May, that if unions accepted the stabilisation arrangement they would be secure for twelve months against reduction of wages. In this belief freezing workers, who have not usually soUSfht the aid of the Arbitration Court, made no demur to the employers' proposals to submit their dispute to that tribunal, feeling secure in tlie arrangement made to protect them for a definite period. Now they arc undergoing a radical change of opinion regarding future developments. It is stated here that acceptance by the trade unions of the May agreement' was largely due to the personal influence of Mr. McCullough, who unhesitatingly assured the workers that they could rely oil operation of the principle of stabilisation, and that, but for his influence, there would have been serious trouble at that time. NoW that tho Court has depa-ted from this understanding, trade union opinion declines to recognise the force of the Arbitration President's .arguments. There is no option but resignation for the workers representative, who, in the opinion of his constituents, has been misled, and has innocently misled the trade unions. A conference of the Alliance of Labour delegates met to-day to consider immigration and unemployment. Mr. McCullough's position, which is being referred to the Alliance by the retiring assessor, has not yet been discussed.