FREEZING WORKERS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 62, 10 September 1921, Page 5

FREEZING WORKERS

CITED BY EMPLOYERS

\ CASE BEFORE CONCILIATION

COUNCIL,

The Freezing Workers' dispute came before the Conciliation Council this morning. ;' Mr. W. Newton (Conciliation Commissioner) * presided. The dispute was originated by the employers, who proposed that the 1919 rates should be reverted to. In their counter-proposals, the Freezing Workers' Federation asked for an increase of approximately 10 per oent on the present wages. The claims of both parties have already been publishedy Mr. A. S. Oookson, of Dunedin, appeared as agent for the employers, whose assessors were * Messrs. / J. O. Cooper, H. G. Warren, S. Dickson, and J. Milne. Messrs. F. J. Viall and' L. Price appeared for the^reozing Workers' Federation.

Mr. Oookson said it seemed unnecessary to have disputes heard in ©very industrial district. If the. union was prepared to treat the dispute as a North Island matter, the employers would be quite agreeable to follow the same course.

Mr. Viall said he,.was not prepared to do that, as the law required that each district,case should be heard ■separately. The Commissioner stated that he understood the conditions in' the industry had been practically the same all over the Dominion, and whatever was done in Wellington, would probably affect the rest of the country. It was finally decided that the dispute should relate only to the Wellington Industrial District

Some discussion, then took place as to the dates on -which" cases should be heiwd in other centres.

Mr. Cooper remarked tlat the employers were anxious to hay« the matte^ pushed through. In reply, Mr. Niall ,«toted that the union did not want the matter pushed through hurriedly; they wanted' it considerod carefully, as it waa most im-' portent. Mr. Price observed that the unions had rights which could not be taken away, and the workers in other places should have an opportunity of considering the employers' proposals. t Mr. Cookson sai3 lie could .not see'why the present dispute could not be regarded as a Dominion one.

"I have a great regard for the law," replied Mr. Niall, "and I would never agree to its being broken." (Laughter.) The question of dates for other hearings was held over until Monday morning.

In order to give the employers an opportunity of considering the counterproposals of the union, the council adjourned until 10.30 a..m v on Monday