EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8567, 15 May 1891, Page 5

EMPLOYERS ASSOCIATION.

A meeting of the executive committee was held yesterday afternoon; arid the secretary was instructed to furnish the Press with copies of the letter sent by him on behalf of the Auckland Employers' Association to the chairman of the Canterbury Employers' Association respecting the strike in the Auckland boot trade. The gist of the chairman's letter appeared in our issue on Tuesday. The following is a copy of the letter, excepting the names of delegates to the approaching conference of employers at Wellington, as there will be a change of the names :—

: Auckland Employers' Association, Auckland, May 6, 1891. To George Booth, Esq., President Canterbury Employers' Association, Canterbury: Sir.—By direction. of our committee I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your favour dated 29th lift, respecting the Auckland boot strike, and to reply that the Auckland Employers' Association, foreseeing the evil effects which might follow a strike in the boot trodc, tried to avert a dispute, an it was due to this Association that delegates went to Wellington. Then when tho strike occurred it endeavoured to get the dispute referred to arbitration, but the operatives refused arbitration or conciliation from any source. Regarding that answer as final, the manufacturers at once engaged free labour, and this Association sees no present opportunity to offer its friendly services to settle the dispute, with any chance of the offer being accepted. : With purely: voluntary association you know how much :• tact ;■ and patience are required: for the settlement of trade disputes, and how difficult it is to expedite a satisfactory; issue; but although there does not seem tn bo any prospect at present of the Auckland manufacturers dismissing the free labour which bus done them good service in this emergency, and of their accepting the general ; statement, your Association may rely upon our Association vigilantly watching for a favourable opportunity to assist in securing a settlement on a fair, 5 satisfactory, and lasting basis.— am, &c, P. G. Ewinoton, Secretary. P.S.—* The Auckland Boot Manufacturers' will submit to ;arbitration all :differences which may arise under their local statement.