SPIN OF A COIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21315, 17 October 1932, Page 11

SPIN OF A COIN

CONCILIATION SUCCEEDS SETTLING THE LAST POINT BOOT INDUSTRY AGREEMENT Tho spin of a coin and the cry of "heads" settled the last point of difference! at a conciliation council meeting in Wellington last Friday between representatives of employers and employees in the New Zealand boot and shoe manufacturing industry. This last point, which, when disposed of, paved Hie way to complete agreement between the parties, made Boxing Day a paid holiday. The workers' advocate spun a penny into the air and one of tho employers assessors called "heads." The coin fell "tails," and the workers got their holiday. In this manner an end was brought, to conciliation proceedings regarded by both sides as admirable. There was even some mention of cheers when the agreement was reached. "The spirit of conciliation," said one of the employers' assessors, Mr. H. B Duckworth, "has been manifested more round this table than it ever has been at any similar proceedings in my experience. It has been a pleasure, and the spirit shown throughout has been wonderful." The employees' advocate, Mr. G. A. Watts, said that they appreciated the spirit in which the employers had met tliom under such difficult conditions. The Employees had realised what they had to face when they had come to tho council,, and had hardly expected that such a fine atmosphere would prevail. A great deal of tho credit, he said, for reaching the agreement, was due to the employers' advocate, Mr. J. H. Ford. "I congratulate you very much indeed," said Mr. E. W. F. Gohns, the conciliation commissioner, "on the amicable and conciliatory manner you have displayed throughout these proceedings. I think J am right in saying that the boot trade was the first to have an award under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Since then you have often had hard fights and hard tussles, but you have always displayed an excellent spirit of conciliation." He congratulated both advocates. A tribute to the commissioner was paid by both advocates.