ENGINEERS' DISPUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21326, 29 October 1932, Page 9

ENGINEERS' DISPUTE

CONCILIATION DISCUSSION ABSENCE OF ONE PARTY [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] - WELLINGTON, Friday When the engineers'/ dispute reopened in conciliation council to-day a lively discussion took place as to whether the conference should proceed wilhout 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 6hould 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 oa the other side of tha table are honest in their desire to bring about an agreement there is nothing to stop them. If thev break off the meeting they are doing it deliberately and are not honest in their purpose. Mr. Thurston: I object to that, W« 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 to-day. Mr. Thurston said the only question was whether they were prepared to go on without the moulders. Tlie workers' representatives retired to discuss the question, and upon their return Mr. Thurston announced that thsy were prepared to proceed. An agreement was reached upon a number of minor points, but the main issues were held over until to-morrow, when the conference resumes.