INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE

Northern Advocate, 29 October 1932, Page 11

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE

ENGINEERING AFFAIRS,

LIVELY DISCUSSION.

ONE PARTY , ABSENT

(Per Press Association. —Copyright.) WELLINGTON, This Day

When the engineers’ dispute reopened in Conciliation Council yesterday a lively discussion took place as to whether the conference should proceed without the presence of the moulders’ representatives, who had intimated their inability to be present on account of short notice. Eventually it was decided that the parties represented should do their best to arrive at an agreement, and leave it open to the moulders to concur if they so desired. The Commissioner, Mr W. Newton, presided.

Mr Thurston, of Canterbury, for the Union, led the discussion, and stated that any agreement should involve the three organisations concerned, the engineers, moulders and boilermakers.

The Commissioner said any agreement arrived at would concern only those represented at the sitting. Mr T., O. Bishop, for the employers: ,( I want to say quite frankly that if those on the other side of the tabic are honest in their desire to bring about an agreement there is nothing to stop them. If they break off the meeting they 'are doing it deliberately and arc not honest in their purpose. ’ ’ Mr Thurston: “I object to that. Wo are just as honest as you are.” Mr Bishop: “I do not mean it offensively. It is just as well to understand one another. There is no legal bar to our going ahead today. ” Mr Thurston said the only question was whether they wore prepared to go on without the moulders.

The workers’ representatives retired to discuss the question, and upon their return Mr Thurston announced that they were prepared to proceed. An agreement was reached upon a number of minor points, but the main issues were held over until today, when the conference will resume.