A DEADLOCK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18352, 9 March 1920, Page 5

A DEADLOCK.

MUSTERERS’ DISPUTE. ■" These sittsajrs ar* zfeem like a game of ’'■'■ki'r,” paid rae Commissioner at tie Coraioil of Conciliation yesterday morning, ■when the men’s representatives objected to tlio employers’ offer during tho hearing of the musterero', packers’ and shepherds’ dispute. The Canterbury Shipowners’ Union was represented by Messrs H. D. Acland, L. A. Rutherford and E. Hay, and th© Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Union of Workers by Messrs C. E. Baldwin, F. Ellis and A. 0' ok. The Commissioner, Mr \V. H Bagger, presided. men asked that musterers should got rot less than £1 5s a day, as against 12s 6d under the old award; snow-rakors 35s a day, as against £1 a. day; packers £1 2s Gd a day or £5 a weak, as against £2 a week; yearly shepherds £175 a year; double isles for Sunday work in all cases; married couples £2OO a year -n all cases with rations; casual shepherds £G a week for a term of not less than three months, and food and accommodation to be provided by the employer ; musterers’ horses to be shod, fed and kept at the expense of tho employers. The employers’ counter-proposal was not less than 16s a day for a musterer if engaged for less than a week, and £3 6s a week if engaged for a week or more, with an additional payment of 16s for Sunday work. The employers fuithor.proposed that packers should get net less than £3 ft week cr.d that snow-rakers should get £1 os a day. Mr Acland Baid that the Sheepowners’ Tujjt. relied on the Otago award. As an alternative they would have to go to the Arbitration Court.

Mr Baldwin said that the men’* assessors would have no recommendations to make to tho Arbitration Court. They had come to the Council in a conciliatory spirit with a desire that matters should be fixed up. The employers had evidently not come in a conciliatory spirit. They were practically asking tho men to declare war. "Was that fair? The Otago award was far from satisfactory, • Mr Acland: Tou are suggesting that tho men would prefer not to oome under an award at all. Mr Baldwin said that musterers in Canterbury were getting a higher wage than that sat out in the Otago award. He knew of none getting less than £4 or £i 10s a week. ’ y

Mr Aolaad: "Wo don’t have the musterers we used to hare. Mr Baldwin: No I Not since your possessions were out up. But the musterdrs are still there. Thoy axe working for someone else if they're not working for you. Mr Aolaad said that the employers were not prepared to offer any increase on 16s a day to musterers. Mr Ellis: Then we either hare to accept the Otago award or go to the oouit? Is that the position? . Mr Acland: Yes.

Mr Oook: That is an ultimatum. The workers’ representatives retired for a few minutes to consider the position. Subsequently, Mr Baldwin said that, in view of the attitude taken no by the sheep owners. It was 1 not worth while going on. The only thing left was for the Commissioner to declare the conference abortive. Tho sheep owners had not changed their attitude in eixteen years—it had never been the attitude of the men. Mr Baldwin proceeded to refer to the ■ connection between tho Arbitration Court and employing bodies that included lawyers, and made a general attack on the methods adopted. The Commissioner: You must not get excited.

Mr Baldwin: I don’t want to say these things, but I am led to understand that the employers have given an ultimatum. I will take steps to circulate this amongst members of my union, and—— The Commissioner: Don’t make any threats. We have not got properly started yet. Mr Baldwin: Well.' the owners say “the Otago award or nothing.” _ The Commissioner: A sitting of the Conciliation Council is like a game of poker. Mr Baldwin: We want show poker. The Commissioner: In my experience there is often bluff on both sides. Following further discussion, the Commis(doner announced that a deadlock had come about. He would send in a report to the Arbitration Court stating that no recommendations were made by the council. The proceedings closed with a rote cf thanks to Mr Haggar.