THE FREE LABOR “ AGREEMENT."

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3943, 28 May 1913, Page 6

THE FREE LABOR “ AGREEMENT."

NOTHING DEFINITE YET KNOWN INQUIRIES IN CHRISTCHURCH. LP&EBS ASSOCIATION TELEGEAM.] CHRISTCHURCH, May 27. A reporter to-day saw' Mr. H. A. Knight, chairman of directors of the Christchurch Meat Co., and Mr. William Murray, the general manager of the company, in respect to tho piiu-' lishedi statements regarding the possible agreement between the shipping interests and the Federation of Labor, and asked if-tbey bad any information that they could give him on the subject. Both gentlemen stated, that, while they had heard of tho proposed conference to discuss the matter, the company, though deeply interested, was not absolutely directly concerned, and therefore they were not really aware of the exact nature of the negotiations, if any, that may have taken place. They added, however, that the basis of the suggested compact between the shipping interests and the Federation of Labor as far as theyknow from such information which had reached them, was of such a nature that they could not conceive it possible that any of the shipping companies concerned could contemplate entering into an agreement on the lines rumored. Mr A. W. Bennett, of the New Zealand Shipping Company, in reply to tlie reporter’s inquiry, said that the statement that the conference was to bo between the representaives of the Union Steamship Co. and tbo Federation of Labor was incorrect. “Whatever tho result of the conference may be,” Mr Bennett continued, “the New Zealand Shipping Co. has no intention of doing anything which will prejudice tho position of the free laborers in Tiraa.ru. Under no circumstances shall wc throw them over, as they came to our help when the old union refused any longer to work under the' agreement. That is the attitude of tho New Zealand Shipping Co."” ‘At a meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Employers’ Association the following motion was agreed to: ' The Canterbury Employers’ Association most strongly protest against any agreement being entered into by any shipping company which, may prevent free labor being used when necessity requires it. The Association is of opinion that such an agreement would be against the best interests of the whole community, and most harmful to every industry in the Dominion, whether agricultural, pastoral, or manufacturing.

APPARENTLY CONFINED TO CHRISTCHURCH. STRONG CRITICISM IN DUNEDIN. [PEESS ASSOCIATION TEI.EGBAMI DUNEDIN, May 27. Tlie Press Association telegram from Christchurch concerning a report that a conference is to be held there between representatives of the Christchurch shipping companies, and the Federation of Labor to discuss arrangements by which the companies will virtually exclude free labor from employment on wharves, has caused some comment in tho Dominion. Inquiries made among local watersiders drew information that so far as they were concerned, they had no knowledge of the suggested conference. while representatives of the shipping companies likewise expressed their ignorance of any movement in the direction indicated. Further investigations, however, revealed the fact that there is no doubt that such a conference is proposed, and several members of the Otago Employers’ Association, when seen, in tlie matter, expressed themselves in strong terms of disapproval of the action of the representatives of the Cliristehureh shinping companies. It was also gathered that the movement within the citv is entirely a local one, without other centres appearing to have been consulted in regard to the conference, and the suggestion was made that it- is a diplomatic move on the part of the Federation to save its face after the rebuff it received over tlie Timaru strike. There seems to be no question, so far as local employers are concerned, but that strong criticism of the projxised conference will go forward from Dunedin.