“STORM IN A TEA CUP.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3946, 31 May 1913, Page 7

“STORM IN A TEA CUP.”

THE FREE LABOR CONFERENCE. SIR JAMES MILLS INTERVIEWED. WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S ACTION.

[press association telegram.! WELLINGTON, May 30. .At a- meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce today to consider the reported proposal of the shipping companies to come to an understanding with the Federation of Labor, Mr. A. E. Mabin (president of the Chamber) said he had authority to say that the direct lines (Sliaw. Savill and Albion, New Zealand Shipping Co., and others) had no intention of entering into, any compact with the Federation of Labor that would in any way debar their (the direct lines) use of free labor if occasion demanded. Although they were prepared to attend a. conference of the shipping companies to discuss labor matters, they were not prepared to even consider such a compact with a labor organisation as bad been suggested in the press, as the idea was repellant to them. There had, apparently, been an attempt by some party or parties to endeavor to make terms with the Federation of Labor, but owing to the resentment shown by the public to such a,u arrangement, the danger might be considered as past. Yet the Chamber should express in unniistakeable terms its opinion as an intimation of the course which should be taken in future. .

After discussion, the Council re solved:

“That the Wellington Chamber of Commerce protests against any shipping company «r employer of lalx»r entering into any compact which may prevent free labor being employed if necessity arises, and considers that any such agreement will be prjudicial to the interests of the Dominion, and further considers that on the termination of present agreements no new arrangements should be made with any body except the Arbitration Act.”

Sir Janies Mills, interviewed with reference to the reported combination between shipping companies and the Federation of Labor, stated that nothing of the sort had ever been dreamt of, and that the agitation over it was merely “a storm in a teapot.” The suggestion that it was proposed to promote such a combination to the detriment of the, public, was an absolute and mischievous fiction. “The position is quite simple,’’ he said. “The officers of the Federation of Labor approached the Union Co. with a view to a meeting being arranged with leading shipping companies to discuss the position at Timaru, and as a preliminary, the companies were asked to meet ta discuss the situation and, if they thought it advisable. to meet representatives of the Federation later. It was clearly pointed out to the latter that no arrangements were possible other than that the position at Timaru should be accepted as it is, the right of free labor at present employed to be respected, the waterside workers to discharge and load cargoes irrespective of their having been handled by free labor, either on trucks or elsewhere and, above all. a substantial monetary guarantee should be given that any agreement made should he observed in the future, and unless this was understood a meeting would be out of the question. The direct,companies having decided not to meet.the representatives of the Federation, there is an end of the matter, though probably a meeting will still be arranged'with the representatives of these companies and the .Union Co., for the purpose of discussing further possible developments. . The position of the Union Co., Sir James nointed out, is somewhat different from that of the direct companies as itis working under an arrangement with the waterside workers at practically all ports in the Dominion, and is also working under agreements with, organisations representing its masters and officers, its engineers, seamen, and cooks and stewards, mechanics, and artisans as well as waterside workers, with all of whom conferences are of frequent occurrence for the purpose of adjusting differences and tiding over difficulties that arise from time to. time, so that the conference proposed in the ease was not regarded by the Union Co. as a serious matter.

A DECIDED STATEMENT. CHRISTCHURCH, May 30. The “Press” is authorised to say that the statement coming from Wellington that the conference between the shipowners and the Federation or Labor has not been abandoned and that it will take place soon, is without foundation—at any rate so far as the New Zealand Shipping Co., and the Shaw, Seville, and Union Companies’ are concerned'. The “Press” is informed that there was never any intention on the part of The two companies to meet the Federation of Labor in the conference.