GROCERS' DISPUTE

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 62, 15 March 1933, Page 10

GROCERS' DISPUTE

HITCH IN COUNCIL

CHAIN STORES NOMINEE

UNUSUAL SITUATION

An unusual situation developed when the dispute between the Wellington Grocers' Union of Employers and the Grocers' Assistants' Union came before the Conciliation Council yesterday afternoon? An application for representation among the employers' assessors was made on behalf of the chain stores. The Wellington Grocers' Union of Employers opposed the application, but eventually the deadlock was overcome by one of the employers' assessors voluntarily withdrawing in favour of a representative of the chain stores. Mr. M. J. Reardon, on behalf of the employers' union, opposed the application made on behah' of the representative of the chain stores. He stated that the four persons named by the appellant were already legally appointed assessors. Whatever powers/the Commissioner might possess in the appointment of assessors for the respondents at the present stage he had none so far as assessors -or the applicants were concerned. EIGHT TO BE HEARD. Mr. T. 0. Bishop, who appeared for the proprietors of the cnain stores, said his clients employed 457 hands out of a total of 875 members of. the union, and he submitted that the chain stores were entitled to representation. Ho applied to have his clients added as applicants, and he /contended that his party had the right to be represented by two assessors. If the Commissioner was not prepare^ to accede to his request, he would ask that the proceedings be adjourned! and the opinion of the Court of Arbitration obtained. Mr. Bishop's statement was challenged by Mr.1 A. W. Croskery (agent for the workers), who said that some workers must have been included who were not covered by the award. The secretary of the union informed him that the number of workers employed in the chain stores was 256. Mr. Bishop: That's absurd, there are 457. Mr. Croskery: They cannot come within the scope of the Grocers' Assistants' Award. ; After further argument on the suggestion of the Commissioner (Mr.- P. Hally), Mr. Bish-op and Mr. Eeardon. conferred. NO AGREEMENT. / Upon the resumption of the proceedings, Mr. Bishop announced that unfortunately they had not been able to come'to an agreement. Mr. Reardon said he still.maintained that the four assessors for the applicants had been appointed by law. The Commissioner: Would you .like the matter deferred? Mr. Reardon: J don't see why it should be. The Commissioner suggested that one of the master grocers' assessors should retire in favour of a representative of the chain stores. Mr. B. Sutherland: In Auckland we had two. The Commissioner: I don't feel disposed to- appoint more than one. Mr. Bishop said that while not challenging the Commissioner's ruling, ho must protest. No man could be denied the right of being heard in his own case. The Commissioner said he had given considerable thought to the matter, and he was prepared to believe that there were a number of men employed in grocers' shops who were not members of the union. Mr. Bishop: I admit that. The Commissioner said' he thought that one representative would be sufficient. . .■"■■■■ Mr. Reardon (to the Commissioner): I must challenge you to name the' person not competent to act; Mr. Bishop said that no man should come to the council as impartial and then be prepared to. fight against the interests of a fellow-employer. Mr. Reardon: Mere presumption. ; Mr. Bishop said his clients had been denied representation. • ' Mr. Eeardon: Does a union invite,nonunionists to its meeting? ' ; Mr. Bishop said he would be prepared to accept one representative. Mr. Reardon: My colleagues are not prepared to go on in the circumstances; they would muoh: prefer to stand on whatever legal rights they have. Mr. Bishop the Council to section 45, sub-section 3, of the I.C. and A. Act, which gives the Council power to proceed with the case even in the event of assessors electing to retire. Mr. Reardon: I am not going to abandon the field of battle. . Th<> Commissioner said that it was competent for the Council to carry on even if the assessors did not appear. Mr. Reardon (to the Commissioner): You set up the Council. WILLING TO RETIRE. At this stage, Mr. D. Mouat said that if one of the assessors had to retire he desired that it should be himself. Mr. Bishop suggested that Mr. Sutherland take Mr. Mouat's place, and this was agreed to. The Commissioner remarked that this was the first occasion in Wellington in which a representative of the chain stores had taken part in the proceedings,. He knew of the feeling between fhe parties, and he hoped that as a result of what had taken place that afternoon the feeling would disappear. The parties proceeded to discuss the case, the representatives being as fol: lows: — Master Grocers: Messrs. A. L. Brown. H. Wardell,, J. F. ; Turnbull, B. Sutherland (chain stores), and M. J. Reardon (agent). Assistants' Union: Messrs. W. H. Coombe, J. Duncan, J. B. Paton, S. Butcher, and A. W. Croskery (agent).