THE SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 98, 18 January 1908, Page 3

THE SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

• CASE BEFORE THE BOARD. -'(riiOM crtra". sriciAi." conufsroxoEST.) .' Palmerston North; January 17. ■'The Conciliation Board sat. at. Palinerston this morning to-lioar the.dispute between tho P--,torii lists"''aifd the -Shearers' Unioij; Mr.I'. .J. O'Rognn presiding. The - employe,rs were represented by Captain Hewitt-, and Mr. I ■'Abbott.' appeared' on behalf of the Shearers' Union. u [ The, Chairman 'intimated that in view of the prospective conference -between the employers, ami the shearers, which was likely to bring' about an. amicable settlement, the Hoard, bad decided to adjourn. He hoped that, tho conference would he brought about, within a reasonable time,: and that it would prove a success. ■ '■Captain Hewitt stated that the farmers had every desire that'tho matter in-'dispute should'.'Be''settled, and promised that the conference would bo held at an early date. The Chairman pointed out that, although the Board had power to issuo subpoenas, 'they had no desire, that this should bo done, for lib--considered that they would ho able to obtain nil tho evidence they required without taking such: a step. ■ Mr. Abbott also signified his intention of doing all ho could towards an ainicnble .settlement. Tho' Chairman- suggested that the conference of employers should bn mado as representative as possible of both largo and small farmers: ■ . ; ill-,. Abbot I informs me. that, a special meeting of the shearers will he held at Hunter.villc on Saturday evening, when some important mailers will he dealt with. In consequence of his visit there he would be. unable to arrive in Wanganui in time for the sitting of,.the Conciliation Hoard on Monday. A request that the sitting be adjourned until 11.30 a.m. has been granted. Mr. J. C. Cooper, representative of (he New Zealand 'Farmers' Union in the shearers' dispute (telegraphs our Wairarapa correspondent) will leave Eketaluina to-morrow for Wanganui. where lie is to represent, the Union at a Conciliation Hoard meeting oil Monday.