CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18149, 12 August 1924, Page 3

CONCILIATION COUNCIL.

DROVERS AND PACKERS' DISPUTE. A sitting of the Conciliation Council was held yesterday to consider the musterers', packers', and drovers' dispute. The Conciliation Commissioner, Mr W. H. Hagger, presided. The assessors were: For the Union, Messrs C. E. Baldwin, W. Boone, and Stewart Elliot; and for the employers, Messrs H. D. Acland, W. H. Nicholson, and E. 18. Neill. The parties to the dispute were: The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Labourers' Union, and the Canterbury Sheepowners' Industrial Union of Emplovers, Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd., H. Matson and Co., New Zealand Farmers' jjQo-operativo Association, Dalgety Ltd., and the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd. On of the employers, Mr Nicholson formally objected to the inclusion of the firms mentioned in the dispute. It was claimed that the firms mentioned were merely agents for the sheepowners who were cited. Mr Baldwin, for the Union, opposed the objection, and stated that although these firms did not own sheep, as agents they employed drovers. The objection was , referred to the Arbitration Court. The Union filed a full set of clayns. It claimed for musterers,'22s Gd a day; packers, £4 10s a week, with double 'time on Sundays; wages for snow-rak-ing £1 10s a day, with double time on Sundays. For youths, the Union asked: First year £2 a week, second year £2 10s a week, with board and lodging. The wages asked for drovers were £1 7s 6d a day. The' Union asked for the provision of proper sleeping quarters and of food of good quality,, including jam, and not less than l-|lb of butter each week for every worker. The award was to apply to permanent farm or station hands assisting in mustering and packing. The employers' counter-proposals were based on the old award. Tho wages for musterers were £4 a week or 16s a day and 16s additional for Sunday work. Packers employed in connexion with mustering were paid £3 5s a week or 15s a day. Musterers or packers required to do snow-raking were paid £1 5s a day. The wages for youths were: First year £1 10s a week; second year £2 a week. 'Drovers received £1 a day and all necessary expenses. Provision was also made for the supply of food and sleeping accommodation. The award did not apply to permanent hands. The employers contended that there was no reason for any change from the old award. After some discussion, during which the employers declared.that they were not prepared to make any advance on the present rates, Mr Baldwin charged j the employers that they did not try to conciliate. Mr Acland: Your idea of conciliation, Mr Baldwin, is that we should give away all the time and you should be given concessions. But our point of view is different. That.'s our idea of conciliation. , Mr Baldwin: But all you do is to chuck the bone on the. table and say: If there's not enough .meat on it, you will have to eat the bone! ' Mr Boone: Well, as far as I can see, there is no chance of coming to any agreement. I can't honestly see how we can come to an agreement. We won't reduce our,claim and you wotf't make any advance .on your offer.' I don't there is 'any good, in wasting discussing these matters. None of the points mentioned was agreed to. Practically the whole of the dispute was referred to the Arbitra- j tion Court for settlement. j