FURNITURE TRADE DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1096, 7 April 1911, Page 6

FURNITURE TRADE DISPUTE.

A CURIOUS CONTENTION. The award under which workers in the furniture trade are paid ran out two years ago, but as it was considered satisfactory it had been renewed from time to time. Recently, however, tile Furniture Trades' Workers' Union decided to seek a new award, but at first proposed to seek a conference with the employers with a view of "arriving at an amicable settlement to this dispute" (so ran the circular issued by Mr. 1). Moriarty) to the employers. The union appointed fivedelegates, and informed Mr. U r . Grenfell, secretary of tho Wellington Employers' Association, that it would be pleased if tho employers would appoint a similar number of delegates for the purposes of a conference, preferably with an independent assessor, Mr. P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, to preside. Mr. Grenfell has been informed by Mr. Moriarty that his union would object to him (Mr. Grenfell) being one of tho employers' representatives, on the ground that he was not an authority on furniture-making, and for other reasons. Ho would bo allowed, however, the union graciously conceded, to bo present for reference not for conference. Mr. Grenfell on receipt of this curious notice convened a mooting of employers whn decided that either Mr. Gronfoll must be included, or both Mr. Grenfell and Mr. Moriarty must be excluded. Mr. Moriarty declares that his position is not on all fours with that, of Mr. Grenfell. He (Mr. Mornrty) claims that h? is an experienced furniture worker, and is legally entitled to sit as an assessor on Conciliation Councils, but Mr. GrenfpH is not. a furniture worker or an employer, and therefore, Mr. Moriarty claims that hi> has no legal status as an assessor. The union pronosc to at mice refer the disputo to tho Conciliation Council.