MUSICIANS’ DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 68, 13 December 1933, Page 15

MUSICIANS’ DISPUTE

». . Conciliation Proceedings Fail SECTION OPPOSES AWARD Conciliation Council proceedings iu the musicians’ dispute collapsed yesterday when the Auckland employers’ assessors opposed the making of any agreement covering their district. When after long discussions their position was made clear, the council commenced to discuss clauses of the employers’ application for au award, but the discovery that the Canterbury employers had objections to the inclusion of several important classes of workers caused the employers’ advocate (Mr. W. J. Mountjoy) to express the opinion that further progress was unlikely while those two points were outstanding. An attempt by the workers’ assessors to have the dispute referred to the Arbitration Court was defeated, but endeavours are to made outside the council-to bring the Auckland objectors to conciliation. The dispute is between the New Zealand Theatrical Proprietors’ and Managers’ Industrial Association of Employers and the New Zealand Performing Musicians’ Industrial Association of Workers. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr. P. Hally) presided over the council, which had adjourned on November 21. The applicants were represented by Messrs. W. J.. Mountjoy (advocate), F. T. Martin, Neil Edgar (Auckland), H. Stringer, W. Burton, J. Robertson (Wellington), Claude. Haigh and D. L, Macdonald (Christchurch),-and the respondents by Messrs. Frank Egerton (advocate), N. Anderson, G. Poore (Auckland), A. E. Tongue, A. Tongue (Christchurch), J. Harper and R. Hulbert (Wellington). At the commencement Mr. Mountjoy pointed out that the employers had added to the dispute quite a number of parties on their side at the request of the workers. The present award applied to Wellington and Canterbury, the award having expired in Auckland and Otago. A difficult situation was created hy the fact that the Auckland assessors’ present had been instructed not to make an agreement covering the district, while some of the interested parties were desirous of having an award. / . - ■ Mr. Egerton said musicians for the last 22 years had been working’under awards covering all classes of the industry until trouble occurred in Auckland.'’ A breach of the award occurred and action was taken for a new award to be made. However, no agreement 'could be arrived at and,the award expired. The meeting called in Auckland to appoint employers’ assessors to the council was not representative of the employers there. Retirements for Discussion. The commissioner’s suggestion that he retire with the Auckland employers’ assessors and the employers’ advocate to discuss the trouble was accepted, but when they returned he said he was sorry to have to report they had not met with any success at all. They were nominated at a meeting properly convened and the non-attendance of some parties did not affect the assessors’ status. In the meantime, so far as* Auckland was concerned and that council was concerned, they were at a dead end. He would be glad if the glpnloyersL representatives generally would retire and discuss the Auckland position. Mr. Egerton said they had come to Wellington thinking they were going to get an award. He understood that if any point were in doubt 75 per cent, could send the clauses to the Arbitration Court, and, he asked the Commissioner if that could be done. Mr. Hally replied that if five out of the seven on each side agreed that could be done. Following a, retirement by Mr. Mountjoy with the employers’ assessors he announced that they had not got very far. The best thing to do under the circumstances would be to take some of the clauses and see how far they could agree. Mr. Egertofi: Do I take it the other side cjtn discuss some clauses? Mr. Mountjoy:, Unfortunately we have a slight division, and the only thing to do is to discuss some of the clauses and test the feeling of the assessors. , Second Difficulty. The council proceeded to c<sSsider the classes of workers to be covered by the award, and wages were under consideration when the council rose for lunch. At the resumption the workers’ assessors announced the rates they were prepared to accept, but Mr. Mountjoy said the Auckland emiiloyers’ assessors objected to agreement on any clauses that would .affect the northern industrial district, and Canterbury objected to skating rink and public and private dance Assemblies being included in the clause covering classes of workers. If they could not get agreement on those points it .was not much, use trying to arrange wages. ‘ . Mr. Egerton said that three weeks ago they had' adjourned bn the understanding that certain people were to be cited and certain classes included, and apparently the employers had not objected to the proceedings. Now it seemed as if they were going back on their word,. Mr. Mountjoy said that on that occasion they had not disclosed all their difficulties, hoping that they would be overcome,, but instead they had become more aCute. Mr. G. Poore (Auckland Employees’ Assessor): If we offered you, /our own claims you would not accept them. The Auckland employers represented were opposed to having any award, said Mr. Mountjoy, but he made it clear that the firms he represented—Fullers, J. C. Williamsons, and the Motion Picture Exhibitors’ Association—did not object. The Auckland employers had been asked to appoint assessors in the hope that the difficulties would be overcome in the meantime. A motion moved and seconded by employees’ assessors that the dispute he referred to the Arbitration Court was defeated by the employers’ assessors. In a discussion as to ways of saving the situation the employers’ representatives expressed the opinion that a further adjournment in the hope of agreement in the meantime would be useless, but .Mr. Hally said that, judging by the progress in the morning, there was a good chance of agreement if assessors’ hands were not tied. Finally Mr. Mountjoy intimated that he would inform the Auckland employers concerned of the seriousness of the position and ask them to reconsider their decision before the proceedings lapsed, as they would, according to law, in a fixed period.