CONCILIATION BOARD CASES. PAINTERS' DISPUTE SETTLED.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 36, 12 February 1908, Page 3

CONCILIATION BOARD CASES. PAINTERS' DISPUTE SETTLED.

[BY TELEGKAPIT.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] PALMERSTON N., 11th February. The adjourned conference in the dispute initiated by the Palmerston North Painters' and Decoiaton,' Industrial' Union of Workers was resumed yesterday before the Conciliation Board. The case was settled amicably. The chief difficulty had been the -union's demand for an allowance of Is cd per week for bicyoles for each man. The union to-day agreed to the deletion of all reference to bicycles, provided the clauses as to suburban work were allowed to ttand They also agreed to Is 3d per hour. Several employers wanted clause 8 amended by substituting Is per day extra for country work, instead of Is 6d, but after conferring with their representatives on tho board, Messrs Innis and Bedford, decided not to press tlie point further. Tho chairman then drew up a memorandum setting forth that both partias agreed to' ths claims as amended by the conference, and pledging them to have the board's recommendation formally referred to tho Arbitration Court to have tho same made into an award. ' Before doing to, however, Mr. O'Eegan explained that an industrial agreement was desirable, for tho reason that it bound an emplojer who was not a party thereto, and that no employer could be compelled to be joined who might start business after the date of the agreement. An award, on tho other hand, bound eyeryono automatically who commenced business after it wa6 pronounced. He also- pointed out that the claims were silent aa to the duration of ihe proposed award. Under the Act throe years was the maximum allowed, but most awards wero for two years. Mr. Collins said that ho favoured three vcars wherever possible, and Mr. Rogers naving agreed, the chairman inserted a clause accordingly in the memorandum of settlement. All tho parties present then signed the document, and the chairman heartily congratulated them. Mr. G. Harlbrcl a<hnitted that the employers had enlerorl on the conference wiih little hope of euocces, and the reEult wa3 a. surprise to all. The employers were Ueep y indebted to tho chairman and members of the board. Mr. Tloger*, for the union, expressed satisfaction at tho royilt of the conference and hearty appreciation of what hart boon, done by the board. The chairman, having briefly replied, the conference teyninitecJ. The mpmbers of the board loft, for Welbr.gton this morning. They hone \o file the agreement as ihe board's recommendation on i'YiJay, after which the union will formally icfer il to the court to have it declared tin award. THE SHEARERS' DISPUTE. The Conciliation Board will sit in Palmorston to draw up tho final draft of the sheariuj agreement, inftead of at Wellington, as originally intended.