HOT WORDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1183, 19 July 1911, Page 8

HOT WORDS.

AT CONCILIATION COUNCIL. FURNITURE TRADE DISPUTE, ?r WE WILL STICK TO THE ACT!" Tho private offieo of tho Conciliation Commissioner,'(Mr,' r, iHally), ..was: the scene of"a sharp encounter, between the Commissioner and Mr. D. Moriarty. (secretary of the Furniture Workers' Union), yesterday morning, when a second but abortive attempt was made to bring about a peaceful settlement, under the aegis of . tho Conciliation, Council, of tho matters in disputo between the employers and workers in the furniture-making industry. Mr. Ilally presided. The assessors for the employers wore: Messrs. 1!. Doherty, J. Bishop, and* J. G. Marshall; for the union, l tho assessors were: : Messrs. D. It. KoriiMSdy, J. Ferguson,■ and D. .Moriarty (president, vice-president, and secretary respectively of tho union). Mr. \V. A. Grenfell appeared as agent for tho employees. The Position RoViewetf, The/ Commissioner opened the proceeding with ri brief review of tho events which." had led up to the meeting. At ii previous meeting of the.' parties, the union's representatives had taken tip a certain-attitude which made further negotiations under tho Conciliation Council an, impcsibility, and they had. been advised > to tako their dispute, elsewhere. The .real cause of tho trouble was tho union's objection to Mr. Grenfell's presence, as agent of the employers,-aud the Arbitration. Court,, to which .the matter was referred for '.'direction ou .'certain points, appeared "from the reports or the proceedings to havo ruled that Mr. Grenfell had a perfect, right' to remain and tako part in the proceedings of the Conciliation Council up to a certain stage. The Court had also appeared to have commented, in effect, that it was unusual for- a dispute to be heard without the presence of agents, for the parties. As a matter of fact, cases had been' heard in tho absence of agents, but in these cases tho hub of tho differences had previously been' arranged. The Court having, advised that this dispute should first, camo before the council, the union, noting in accordance . with that, advice, ha<l written to- the effect.' that it was prepared to go on. Referring to a letter by Atr. Moriarty in Tiie Hour* ion, wherein the 'writer stated that if ho (the Commissioner) attempted, on tho question of agents, to take up the same stand again ; the union's assessors would act in a similar manner as before, Mr. Haliy said that he saw no reason to back down ono iota. Jlr. Grenfell had a right to bo present. Counsel for tho union had stated, in Court that the union had no objection to Mr. Grenfell attending and submitting any objections the employers had to make, but they objected, to him cross-examining and catechising the union's assessors. No objection of tho kind was made. I i

"The- statement was so palpably untrue," observed Mr. Grenfell, "that I let it go." Tho point was, continued the Commissioner, that immediately the union's ■ assessors took upon themselves the functions o£ agents, then it was only right that Mr. Grenfell. .should be allowed to appear. "If you aro willing to go on on these terms," concluded the Commissioner, "then, all right." Mr. Moriarty Speaks. Mr. Moriarty then rose-to. reply.' Prefacing his remarks with a criticism of certain .statements which had appeared hi an, article that -morning, everyone of which, lie deolared, wag contrary to fact, 110 went on to say that the union had never objected to Mr. Grenfell appearing as agent. • "Phew!" whistled Mr. Grenfell.

Jlr. Moriarty, proceeding, said that the union believed very strongly in the principle of conciliation, nad went to tho Arbitration .Court for no other purpose than to " ascertain if they were justified in acting n3 they had dono with regard to Mr. Grenfell. "AYe are not going to argue tho point .with Mr. .Grenfell, or anybody olse," asserted Mr. Moriarty with emphasis. They would hear wha't he had to say, but after that he must retire, and leave .them to argue the merits of tho case with the employers. "We will argue the point with the employers as much as ever they like," he said, adding that if tho'three assessors of the union wero allowed to meet the employers' assessors, with the Commissioner as an independent party, a settlement would he arrived at. A Motion Blocked. Mr. Bishop thereupon moved:— "That this council does now proceed to hear tho union's reasons for an alteration in the .present award." Mr; Gronfell interrupted. "Is there a representative of tho union present?" ho asked. . "No," replied the Commissioner. _ "Then," said Mr. Grenfell, "no case is made out. There is no one here to make a statement of the case for tho union." . ' "That is so," assented the Commissioner, • . "Wo have already stated our cits?," observed Mr.' Moriarty. . Mr. Grenfell objected. "Tho Judge Raid that it was hiost. unusual for a union to Iks unrepresented at the council. Apparently, in his opinion, it was not proper." .."Beaireful," cautioned Mr. MoriaTty. He did not fay 'improper.'" _ "Lot's got on," interrupted Mr. Bishop impatiently. "Don't wasto time. - Mine is precious. The motion was then seconded. "I want your ruling before that motion is put, said Sir. jVToriarty to tho Commissioner. "And mind vonr own business, he said, sharply to Mr. Grenfeii. as that gentleman made somo remark, A Candid Statement. v Mr. Moriarty then resumed his seat and tho Commissioner rose to replv "I jnav as well tell you candidly," lie began, that if you, iilr. Moriarty, were to Joiwc this room, and leave those Vlio are here to go on with the busiiicw a dccisiou would be come io—we should arrive at something. Can you conceive of the employers coming here to seek to lengthen your hours of labour, and reduce your rate of wages, without giviii" re.uous? \et that is what you are a<kinline to .allow you to do." "That's a- direct insult to the union "If' ', r .9 p '} c . t ' Moriarty, with itdimtli, and I object strongly. Now we a Mf m,T ut thc i ri , lt t, of tho Mr. Hally suggested that the union, in order to facilitate the business, might "ive reasons lor its demands. Mr. Moriarty might act as assessor and agent, an anomalous position, as they would .see. He was about to pu the motion when Mr MorI refuse to procecd any furthcr. nnd so saying.ho fetched the table an emphatic thump with his first. "We aro not going to.givo our reasons before a rqom-full of people," he added. •nt- & , ronf(!l1 made some remark. Mind your owu business, please. Ton!" A larsllall at thl f juncture said that thoj-the employers' representativeswould be prepared to proceed to a conof union representatives and .employers representatives,'without Mr.Grenfe.ll, if. Mr. Moriarty were not presentAir. Moriarty was not a bona-fide worker

. "Wo Knov/ Where Wo Arc." Mr. Moriorty declined to entertain tho suggestion. We know whore we are," lie eaid, and we will stick to tho Act." As to his bona-fides, ho said ho was a furniture worker. The chances were that ho would be bttCK at tho trade when this dispute wns settled 'lhe Commissioner explained that the Act allowed Mr. Moriarty to appear us assessor. After some further discussion tho Commissioner intimated that it would be useless to procced. "There are four of them against three of us," commented Mr. Moriarty. "You might speak the truth while you are here," suggestod Mr, Unlly to Mr, Moriarty. "I don't want any of that from you," replied Mr. Moriarty. "If you don't like it," responded Mr. ITally. "thiro is tho door-. You can 'get' as before."

"We did rat 'get* before," retorted Mr. Moriarty. "We were ordered away." ■' . Mr. Itally: "Your action' has -alienated my sympathy. I can do no more for yon." The meetinc than. diisriwl.