TO CONFER ON COST OF LIVING

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 219, 10 June 1921, Page 4

TO CONFER ON COST OF LIVING

UNION LEADERS AND EMPLOYERS'' REPRESENTATIVES AN IMPORTANT STEP As tho result of a suggestion, made in the Arbitration. Court by Mr. T. Bloodworth (Labour) during the argument on , the cost-of-living bonus, trade union i leaders and representatives of the employers will to-day confer with a view to seeing what concerted action can be taken by both! sides in order io reduce the cost of living. It may bo remembered that Mr. S. E. Wright, who put the employers’ aide of tho recent case before the Court, promised to submit to the Employers’ Federation the proposal that such a conference should be held. Mr. Justice Frazer, President of the Court, indicated that ho thought the proposal a good one. At a meeting of tho Employers’ Federation Advisory Board on Wednesday, it was decided to appoint five delegates from the federation to meet five union representatives. It was thought that an informal discussion on the prices of such commodities as butter, sugar, and flour would enable all avenues leading to a reduction in the cost of living to be explored, and that such a conference would be productive of good if only because it would assist both sides to reach a good understanding. The employers’ offer of a conference was considered .by an informal meeting of union leaders convened by the Trades Council- yesterday afternoon. The meeting decided to accept the offer, and io appoint as Labour representatives Messrs. J. M'Combs, M.P., E. Kennedy (president of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council), M. J. Reardon, A. Parlane and J. M'Kenzie.

The employers’ representatives will be Messrs. T. Shadier Weston (president of the federation), A. C. Mitchell, H. Mainland, AV. 11. Bennett, and T. Munt. The conference will he held at the rooms of the Employers* Federation, at 10 o'clock thia morning.