A CONCILIATOR.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 424, 5 February 1909, Page 6

A CONCILIATOR.

JSP. P. HAULY INTERVIEWED. "WANTS TO NEP.' TROUBLE IN THE BUD. Mr.' P. Hally, tho first Conciliation Commissioner for this distnctj is an active-looking • man, in ;.the - primo ,of life, and has a genial unassnnimg- manner. / ■ A Dominion reporter called on him yesterday vat his office m tho : Jfciiiidings^Hunteit:,Streot;;:. ' VMy only'objectj" said Mr. Hally, in thocourse of i-.conversation,: "is to do my best 'for-'both - parties iu ■ any industrial trouble that may- arise. / I: have no interest beyond t{io preservation of industrial peace, and I have \no leaning • towards •. one sido .or the .otheri?'i;?;;C';; ; ,.,'v/ ; Questioner. ; ; ,to tho status 'of a Conciliation. Comimssi..iior, Mr., Hally said/that 'ho 'was . under the control -or direction of tho: | Labour' Department in-. any ■ way. Ho;.was I not,- in fact, a-Civil Servant. ; Subject to tho Act. and tho regulations, he would have a ivoo hand in his endeavours to pacify industrial contestants. .'/'; -v ' ,'. •:';So':tar : , as ,:Ir,am::.concerned," / he con-, tinued, "I shall not follow any. regular hard and:,-fast vlines,7.except where such are laid down for me ■by the, Act: and tho regulations. I. shall be/-guided by the: ciroumstances/of. each, separate case,-: and'l -wanttodivest the proceedings' of as much formality as-, possib :and.giTO:all '.'parties:' 'an:. ; their'own- language their on any quc'stion/that may , cameup' tfor 'settlement.. I . have; long, held .'that industrial; differences could, be settled/best by - .'ithe,employersiand,employees most,'intiraately concerned, , and I am strongly of opinion that :the Act will: have: &■ very good efleot ■in preventing the > appearance ot. professional effect--ing a. settlement • if-things- are talked ovor by 'men with practical -knowledge. /I believe :the-Act,.'if given' a'fair will:eventiially prove, to:be a hugo sucoeSsj' but'jif :the parties : 'come';b'efore;fthe', : .'iCouncils;'with;^'their; hands: tied,*and.not really:prepared to conciliate, the Councils, will. not. be able to do anything fpr;.thcom;",'.-.. ' : -... '. .■'}' l Do you consider-it your- duty as a. Commissioner! to move before a dispute' is -referred to you? ,

"Yes. ,-,-I think. that as soon as a Conoi'iation Commissioner -hears of any '- trouble tbat ■Is/hkelv-vto 'eventuato,- it is''h]s 'duty :toi set aside-all .formality, and get to work ■ at: onca) intorview . the parties,, and: try to get them to agree. • This may perhaps be dono out .even callmg avmeeting; and it .should be done j by; a; without, wai of the parties to approach'him.- \ r ery oltcn, l am ; 6ure,: there ,ia a much better chance of. effecting a , settlement, if ono can get to the .bottom of .the,:trouble at an.-early stage, -:be-, foro. it;,becomes,, acute. / Troubles often" arise .from .misconception on one sido or the other, and if the employers and workers can be got ta understand each othor before the misconception., has-'had. time to develop into a dispute;' why'so iriuch .tlie better.;:';;,", . i, j".That reminds, me,".' continued .the Cora.missibnbrjl"y6u might say that I shall always b)a>'rgla3-'i£(i:rmeet%'4triQldyers x ,'or;:bffiipials, on .either side,-: and;-.to hear from ■ thoitf aooufc;.any :.difficidties fthey-may ; h'ave to coh- ■ tend ■ with... I j shall. always bo at their ; ser- 1 vice, and lf -theyrwill. help me in this way : we may. bo . able to save a great deal of trouble :ta all parties! by/getting matters' settied before'thoy'Como! to a head."