THE SHEARER.

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 1288, 14 September 1910, Page 4

THE SHEARER.

BEFORE THE CONCILIATION corxciL. (.PKK PKESS ASSOCIATION.) Chrisk'hurch, September 13. The dispute betw-oen the Canterbury Shearers' Union and tho employers came before a special industrial tribunal, consi.stinu of Messrs Triggs, Giles, and Ilallcy, Conciliation Commissioners, this inorniiiig. Mr Triggs explained that the Commissioners were acting in a private capacity with tin , idea of arriving at recommendations which would make the basis of a settlement of the dispute. He-fore opening the ca.se, Mr I'ryor. tor the employers, referred to the meeting of shearers held at Waimate addressed by Mr La racy, secretary of the Shearers' Federation, and Mr Waddoll, secretary of the Canterbury Shearers' Union. According to newspaper reports, Mr La racy had declared that if the shearers could not get £1 a hundred there would be no shearers this season. Mr La racy said this report was inaccurate in some particulars. Mr Pryor said that before the case proceeded Mr La racy should give an undertaking that the .Shearers' Federation would abide by the award < f the Court, and that no steps would be taken to prevent the men accepting work. A discussion lasting an hour followed, Mr Triggs supporting Mr Pryor. while Mr Giles thought the matter should be dropped. Mr Laraey at length declared that he would not lie gagged in tbe way Mr Pryor suggested, and would not give an undertaking not to address meetings, and not to advise the men to rvfrnin from taking work. Mr Triggs said that onded the sitting. Mr llnlh'Y said the matter was too important- to be disposed ol so hurriedly. After further argument, Mr Waddell, for the Union. said the Union had signed an undertaking to abide by the award of the Court'Mr Pryor objected that tho Federation was not ready to give ;i similar undertaking. :\!r Waddeil replied that the- employers refused to recognise tho Shearers" Federation, and would not agree to a Dominion award.

The sitting was adjourned for an hour to allow Mr Triggs to confer with the parties.

On resuming. Mr Triggs stated thatno agreement had been reached, but be had dratted ;ui agreement that would bind the Federation not- to interfere with the men's .freedom of action, while it would not prevent individual oiHecrs from advising tho men to try to get higher wage*. Mr La.racy said this wafi acceptable u> him.

.Mr Pryor disagreed, and a further adjournment was made to enable the shearers to hold another confe-rencc.

Tho representative of the Union refused io give to the Conciliation Commissioners to-day an undertaking to abide by the aivanl of the Court, if less than 20s per 100. The unanimous decision of the Commissioners its that seeing the Secretory of the Shearers' Federation will not enter into an undertaking ns suggested b_y the employers, viz... not to do anything to prevent the shearers -workina at less than 20s per 1.00 should the award of the Court, be for loss than that rate, the Comniis-sionore cannot make any recommendation." The Chairman said be -would liMve liked a .settlement lo be brought about, and he rogrei.tiv] the position that had arisen.

The conference thon closed