"THEY RAN AWAY."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1165, 28 June 1911, Page 2

"THEY RAN AWAY."

» A LABOUR DISPUTE, JUDGE SIM AND TEE FURNITUREMAKERS. When Hie Wellington Furniture Maters' Union brought ccrtniii demands before the Conciliation Commissioner and assessors the other day, the technical "dispute" gave riso to something very like an actual quarrel. An endeavour was made during yesterday's sitting of the Arbitration Court to get the matter straightened out with tho help of his Honour Mr. .Tustico Sim. Mr. E. J. Fitzgibbon, on behalf of the union, asked the Court for a ruling. Ho said that tho union recently applied for a new award, and when the matter came beforo a Conciliation Council, thero was a littlo friction between tho union's assessors and those appointed by the employers, over (ho appearance of Mr. Grenfell as agent for tho employers, No ovidence was called by tho uuion, and the assessors for tho union wero quite willing that the agent for the employers should havo an opportunity of slating the objections of the employers to tho provisions of tho proposed award; but the Commissioner ruled that tho agent had a right to argue clause by clause with tho union's assessors. They objected, and 1 withdrew from tho council. The union was under Ihe impression, as the result of some remarks made by Mr. Hallyi the Commissioner, that if the application for a new fward new came to the Court direct, the Court would rafuso to hear it, as had been done on a previous occasion. It would bo (hie to come before tho Court in about three months' time, and if the Court decidod to striko it out those throa months would bo lost. What tho union desired to know was whether the Court would hear tho.application when referred to it, or not. If his Honour ruled that that Court must striko it out, tho union tvould bo ready to go back to tho council.

"It Takes Two." His Honour; It .lakes two to mako an argument. It tho assessors clioso to discuss (ho matter with Mr. Grcnfell, that was their own doing. • • Mr. Fitzgibbon: 1 understand tho Commiesioner called on ono of them to answer Mr. Greufell's objections? His Honour: lie was not bound .to answer Mr. Grcnfcll. The assessors could simply say they would listen to all Mr. Grcnfcll wished to say, and he, as was his duly, could then address tho council, and if they did not wish to say anything, they could sit tight uutil lie' hud finished. Mr. Fitzgibbon: They did so. His Honour: No. According to yourstatement they did not sit tight; they ran away. •. His Honour t went on to say that there 6eemcd to be a notion prevalent—and it would lie just as well to correct it—that assessors eat_ to bind their unions, whotlier the unions liked it or not. That was not so. Assessors wero appointed by ilifi unons, whether of employers or employees, and they might make i<ccom» inendutions. If the unions did no(: like those recommendations, they could repudiate tliem altogether. Mr. Fitzgibbon: Will'your Honour say whether you will liear tho application when it conies before tlio Court at tho next sittings? His Honour: How can I say? I think it is very likely we should send it-back. It looks as if your assessors ran away from their duty. I am only speaking for myself. In further reply to Mr. Fitzgibbon, his Honour said the agent for the employers had n right to 1 lie heard, so long as tho council desired to hear him, but ho had no right (o bo present while they were deliberating.

Mr..Grenfell's Position, Mr. W- A. W. GrenfcU then explained his position in tho matter. Ho said ho did not' claim any right to cross-examine the assessors, but ho maintained that it was their duty to explain why they wanted alterctions' in the award. They docliiicd to do so while ho was there. Tho Commissioner asked them to do so. The secretary of tho union, who was also one of tho assessors, then said ho would not go on. There was nobody there prepared to explain tho case of the employees.' His Honour: But surely it is usual to have someone there besides the assessors? Mr. Grenfell: Unfortunately, your Honour, it has not lieen sd locally of late. The usual thing has been for a union to appoint its secretary an assessor, aud to havo no other agout there. Mr. Fitzgibbon: Tho union was quito prepared to let tho terms of the proposed award speak for themselves. His Honour said that if tho matter was not discussed by the Conciliation Council tho Court might liavo to dismiss the application. ' Mr,. Fitzgibbon said .- that what * tho union chiefly wanted was an indication as to tho rights of tho employers' agent, and 110 thought they would be quito satisfied with what his Honour had said.