HARBOUR EMPLOYEES

Evening Star, Issue 22671, 10 June 1937, Page 8

HARBOUR EMPLOYEES

THE DOMINION AWARD DEMAND NOT MUCH PROGRESS [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 9. When the Conciliation Council resumed in the afternoon hearing of the New Zealand harbour board employees’ dispute, wages was the first subject discussed. “ I have met dairy farmers, and they offered a 10 per cent, increase,” said Mr Roberts, “ but you people offer a 10 to 15 per cent, decrease. If that is the best you can do we can’t agree to it.” , Mr Gardner said that Mr Roberts had, taken the Wellington conditions as the basis for the whole of New Zealand, and the conditions were not applicable to all the other ports. The Commissioner remarked that in the event of no further offer being made in regard to wages it did not appear to be of much value for the council to discuss wages. The difference was too wide to be reconciled, and the question would have to be referred to the court. The council then set to work discussing jobs in relation to each pott separately, but the discussion ended in a declaration by Mr Roberts that it •was a case of a' blank refusal to meet the men. A statement was issued by Mr Gardner on behalf of the employers, denying the union representatives’ suggestion that the employers were stonewalling. The employers’ assessors felt that the present proceedings should bo adjourned, and in the meantime arrangements would be made for a discussion at each port between the representatives of the employers and the employees with the object of setting out in full detail an agreed-upon schedule of conditions of work and other matters relevant to the dispute, such to form the basis of a separate schedule for each port and to' be included in a composite agreement. No agreement was reached and the lien ring was adjourned until to-mor-row.