ARBITRATION v. VOLUNTARY CONFERENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 45, 22 February 1908, Page 9

ARBITRATION v. VOLUNTARY CONFERENCE.

[bt telekkaph. — PBEsa associations} DUNEDIN. 21st February: ~ Interviewed .by a fetar reporter, today Mr. William Scott, secretary, of the Otago Employers' .Association, said a noticeable feature of tho recent ' sit tings was the great number of di6pntea that were settled ih conference by. "the parties interested. " Altogether eigfit disputes were set down for hearing, 'aridsix of them^were settled without tho interference of the court. The disputes settled by the parties themselves were those of the' linotype operators,, harid compositors, country newspapers, -en-* ginecrs, electrical workers,- and" ,tho metal-workers' assistants. Questioned -as to whether this form of settlement' had been markedly,. pri* nounced on this occasion, Mr. Scott said that .during the past "twelve months -he had settled more disputes/ in joonference than before the court. He - is ' a firm, believer in- "employers 'ana employees meeting ia .con'fetence and setting .tife'ir differences in an amicable way, without the interference of outiside aid.' He maintains, that, agreements' as .made'between the parties, " and- embodied ia awards of the court» are. alwa^- batter kept," and are, generally" speaking"; mora Workable than awards^pf- the* court. Parties to these agreements are experts'; they • are thoroughly. .oonv^fSan^.with. all. technicalities, - and the minute, though- important details ef work; they] provide for everything; and '. iu ihey understand the meaning o£ clauses they themselves have drafted.. 'lt is" a" 'rare thing for an" application ior interpretation to ba made respecting an agrcav ment-.' * Mr. Scott claims to have put up. a record in connection with labour disputes. He states that he has conducted 142 disputes before the court, comprising almost 'every trade, and in all parts of the Dominion. He has also presided over 187 conferences between employers and employees, and has been successful in the majority of cases, more particularly "of late: His aim oi late, years ha» been to 1 - avoid • the court as much a» possible, using "it only *■ as -a. last resource. The greater his experience tjio more convinced he is that employers did the right .thing i when, some three , years ' ago, they decided in every -case to meet the workers in conference if possible with a view to an 'amicable settlement, failing which to take 'the dispute direct to the Arbitration Court to allow- both 6ides jt° say all that could be said on their behalf, and then to abide loyally by the' court's award. .",. ,