TRAMWAY OFFICERS' DISPUTE,

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 183, 2 August 1923, Page 5

TRAMWAY OFFICERS' DISPUTE,

AZXEGED SPLIT XX TTHIOhT IMPASSE IN OONCTLIATIOir. A sitting of the Conciliation Court wai held this morning to consider the dlepute between the Auckland City Tramways Officers' Union and the Auckland City Council, the assessors for the union of workers being Messrs. J. Brouder, Wm. Dent, and Arthur Rosser, and the Council being represented by Messrs. J. S. Brigham, G. R. Hutchinson, and A. E. Ford. Shortly after proceedings commenced Mr. J. F. W. Dickson asked permission to state a case on behalf" of a section of the workers, who had instructed him that they wished to withdraw from any part in the case. Mr. Bosser staffed on behalf of the union that the Act did not permit a solicitor to take part in proceedings of this character without the consent of both parties, which had not been ohtained so for. After some discussion the Commissioner (Mr. P. Hally) remarked that while the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act was definite on the matter, the Act under which these proceedings were filed was silent on the point, and it was perhaps advisable to) hear what Mr. Dickson had to say. Mr. Dickson, in outlining the objections taken by his clients, said that they had given notice of resignation from the association, and had formed a new; organisation for traffic members only. They preferred to have an independent set of working conditions, and asked to. be struck out of the present dispute. Mr. Roseer contended that the objec* tors were still members of the Officers' Association inasmuch as they had not complied with the rules of the organisation, both in respect to three months' notice and in failure to pay contributions. The commissioner stated that «o fa* as he was concerned no power was given him under the Act either to strike oat or to add persons during proceedings. It was quite evident, therefore, that in this case something of a novel character had arisen. The point raised by Mr. Dickson was an important one, and new to him. He would put the matter before the Department for their advice, and int the meantime he suggested that the deputation withdraw, and would ask the assessors to give consideration to the position in committee. In committee, we ere informed by the commissioner, it was agreed to postpone proceedings for a few days. In the meantime the union was recommended to call a special meeting of all its members in order that the position may be made quite clear as to whether or not a section of the objectors had really complied in proper form with the rule* of the union, and had a desire to resign.