Conciliation Adjourned In ‘Unhappy Atmosphere’

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29890, 2 August 1962, Page 16

Conciliation Adjourned In ‘Unhappy Atmosphere’

Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 1„ The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr H. M. Hopper) today adjourned the national freezing industry conciliation proceedings. Deadlocked over the question of union representation on the workers’ side of the table, the council did not meet. Mr Hopper gave as his reasons for the adjournment the “unhappy atmosphere” prevailing on the workers’ side of the table.

S?ven workers’ assessors appointed by two majority freezing workers’ groups would not concede one of their number to make way for the assessor appointed by a third group. Mr T. C. Gallagher, the secretary of the Wellington. Taranaki, Nelson and Marlborough Freezing Workers’ Association.

Nominated as assessor by the association. Mr Gallagher objected to the adjournment “to a future date" given by Mr Hopper.

His association was prepared to carry on proceedings, said Mr Gallagher. Since the majority of the parties present were willing to an adjournment, he considered the “time not propitious" to carry on, said Mr Hopper.

The question had also been raised of the representation of the Wellington, Taranaki, Nelson, and Marlborough association, he said. Since Nelson and Marlborough had withdrawn from the association and were now members of the Canterbury Freezing Workers’ Association, the question had been raised of the correctness of the filing of the counter-claims by the Wellington. Taranaki, Nelson and Marlborough association.

The Conciliation Council was not the proper place to adjudicate on this matter, which was one for the Kegistrar of Industrial Unions to decide.

This situation with the association had existed for the last four years, said Mr Gal-

lagher. The New Zealand Freezing Workers’ Association. one of the other workers’ groups had the title of New Zealand, but did not, in fact, cover by any means, all of New Zealand.

The parties to the dispute had been in Wellington since yesterday morning • attempting to resolve the question of the representation of the unions involved. “Doesn't it appear strange to you that this matter

should only have been brought up now?” Mr Hopper asked. A very unhappy atmosphere had prevailed throughout the two days while attempts had been made to resolve the question of union representation. The president of the Wellington. Taranaki, Nelson, and Marlborough association (Mr A. E. Couchman), said: “We claim we have the democratic right to elect our assessor for this conciliation and no-one is going to take that right away from us.” “I have adjourned the proceedings.” said Mr Hopper. He had never been told the reason why the other assessors on the workers’ side of the table were refusing to sit on the council with him, said Mr Gallagher. “You know quite well.” said the secretary of the Canterbury Freezing Workers’ Union (Mr S. Arnst), who has been leading negotiator for the other workers’ groups in the deadlocked proceedings.