MUTUAL DEPENDENCE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 258, 28 July 1936, Page 6

MUTUAL DEPENDENCE

Modern Conciliation Council Spirit A change in the spirit of the sections of industry which meet at the Conciliation Council table from the time when each party usually ■ thought that its best interests were served by always extracting the most it could from the other side was commented on by Mr. S. Ritchie, Conciliation Commissioner, at the conclusion of the council meeting held yesterday to consider the Wellington fibrous plasterers’ dispute. “In conciliation proceedings, where the parties appreciate the rights of the opposite side, it is a pleasant task to preside,” Mr. Ritchie said. “Today most of those who take part in the proceedings recognise that an industry is not the property of either the employers or the workers, but that it belongs to both parties. All concerned have to get their living from it, and each side desires a fair contract, even though there may be some skirmishing for advantage at stages of the inquiry. Sometimes an assessor becomes self-conscious and makes statements that are not quite in the spirit of conciliation, but such remarks are made only in passing. Those concerned understand what is a fair deal, and in general they settle upon that basis.” Mr. Ritchie’s remarks were made at the close of the proceedings, when he was acknowledging an expression of thanks on behalf of the employers by Mr. IV. J. Mountjoy, their agent, for the considerate manner in which the dispute had been handled. Mr. Mountjoy expressed pleasure at the progress that had been made. Mr. N. Hildreth, one of the workers’ assessors, and Mr. J. Ryan, previously secretary of the union, who had been a spectator, endorsed Mr. Mountjoy’s statement. The council agreed on practically all the clauses for a new award, except those governing hours and _ wages, which are dependent on a decision of the Arbitration Court as to the length of the working week.