CONCILIATION BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 12843, 19 June 1906, Page 6

CONCILIATION BOARD.

The Conciliation Board (Mr A. Bathgate in the chair) sat this morning to hoar the dispute between the Otago Coalminers’ Industrial Union and the Taratn Railway and Coal Company. Mr J. Hollows represented tho union. Mr G. R. Cheoseman, who appeared, said that he did not represent the company, because the company was out of existence. The mine was to be put up for sale on the 6th of next month, and therefore he would take no further action in the matter. Ho would simply leave it to the Board to decide whether they should hear the case or not. There was really no company. The debenture-holders were working the mine. Eighteen months ago the case had come before the Arbitration Court, which held that the wrong parties Lad been cited, and there had been no company ever since. The trustee for the debenture-holders had been carrying on in the name of the old Taratu-Kai-tangata Railway and Cool Company. Mr Hollows said there seemed to be a misapprehension. He held that the proper parties had been dted, and that the Taratu Railway and Coal Company was in existence, and was not in liquidation. It was the Kaitangata Company who were cited in the former case, and the Taratu Company in this case.

Mr Cheescman said that last year the Taratu Cool and Railway Company was registered, but it went no further than registration, and had no assets. The Chairman said that opparently then it did not matter whether this company were in existence or not. They had never been employers of labor, and the mine was being carried on by the debenture trustee. He therefore thought that that trustee should have been cited. Mr Hollows said that the name Taratu Railway and Coal Company was on the pay tickets, ana in the advertisements. If the Board considered that the wrong parties had been dted he must abide by that decision, but he himself did not think any mistake had been made by the tmion. The Chairman said it was quite natural, under the circumstances, that the union

should suppose that the company were carrying on. Mr Cheescman said citation had been served on him. The Chairman: Then the debentureholders practically know all about what is going on. Mr Cheeseman: We don’t take it that way. After consideration the Chairman said that the Board were of opinion that there was an irregularity in the proceedings, and as it was desirable to have everything in order the debenture trustee (Mr George Mondy) should be added to the reference and cited. Mr Hollows said that he would like to have time to consult his Executive, and find out whether they would cite Mr Mondy or not.

The case was then adjourned to Wednesday, 27th inst.