FARM LABOURERS' DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 223, 13 June 1908, Page 7

FARM LABOURERS' DISPUTE.

BOARD SWORN IN. NO FRICTION AND .NO DEADLOCK. (BY TELEOEAPJI—PKESa,' ASSOCIATION.) Christchuroh, Juno 12. The recently."gazetted members of 'the. Canterbury Board of Conciliation were duly sworn in by Mr. Justico Donniston at" 10.30 o'clock this ■morning. ; A' meeting of tho board, which. consists of the same members as the old Board, was held afterwards A representative of the "Press" saw tho chairman of tho Board (Mr. W. Minson). at the conclusion of the imeoting,' and on tho. result; of - the Board's dehborauons _ had "been, wds informed that it had.been decidod to go on with tho work preparing. tho Board's report and rccomlnondations to the' Arbitration Court in tho rarm Labourers' dispute-in compliance with tne request mado in tho telegram received ■earlier- m the week from tho Registrar of ■ The Board would resumq work on tho roport-on Monday morning. Asked if . the.; Board's report and recommendations. would • be-. ready for tho Court during its. sittings,, .which commence in this city on Monday, Mr. Minson said that that was a point-Upon which" ho could mako no . statement., • : He desired to add that the statement'. attributed to the 1 Minster for Labour—to. tho effect that tho Board hadreceived the 1 month _which, according to the Act, the Governor-ii'.-Council "may" grant in order that a board'whose term of office has; expired may;,-deal with, any matter before it which was unfinished—was incorrect, 1 and if the. Minister made it he was evidently- labouring, under a misapprehension The only , extension of > granted the Board wero two' periods' of one week'each out of the statutory pferiod s of one month., ' The notification that the week had been granted only reached tho Board when .the week ..in question had almost expired. In other words, the Board . hau bad to take the. risk of the - extension °® ln S -ranted at the. expiry of that week. , "ho Board made no further application for. extension of time, but the. chairman, under instructions from the Board,.wrote plac- ' mg.tho whole position before the Department, leaving it to, tho • Department to extend the timo for any period that it thought necessary.. • • • ~ " Messi's. Sheat 'and Broadhead, members of the Board, also' made statements to the reporter with - which the. chairman expressed his concurrence.. Mr.' Sheat. .said that;. he wished it made, plain - that there , had been no friction on the Board, and, no, deadlock arising out pf any friction_ amongst its membors.. It appeared to him that , certain momborß of the public were;under a misapprehension on this, matter, j Mr. Minson added that there was no jus- I tification for the statement that a deadlock • had,arisen through him (the chairman) refusing to givo his casting vote. No occasion had. occurred, calling upon him to exercise his casting voto. Mr.' Broadhead remarked that it should bo made j clear that the statement' which had been "iii- circulation to the effect that members of tho Board were not anxious to facilitate the business' of the Board in the' farm labourers' dispute" had absolutely no foundation:in fact;