TO GO TO THE COURT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8653, 11 February 1914, Page 8

TO GO TO THE COURT

BOILERMAKERS’ DISPUTE. Press Association. DUNEDIN, February 10. Air J. R. Triggs, Conciliation Commissioner, held &■ sitting this morning with tho object of settling the dispute between tho Otago Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuilding Union of Workers and the employers. The Commissioner said he had been given to understand that if an agreement was arrived at it would be made a Dominion award, and that that was the reason a representative was present from Christchurch. Air Gillies (employers’ representative), speaking of the proposals, said that if a forty-four hours week was going to be granted the employers preferred that that should be brought about by legislation. There were so many different branches of the trade at work in business that if the men were going to work under different awards they would never know where they were. Air O’Brien (employees) intimated that the engineers would shortly he asking for a forty-four hours week. Air Gillies said the employers preferred that the engineers and boilermakers should come before the council at the same time. Mr Triggs asked whether the representatives of the union had instructions not to depart from the proposals, and Mr O’Brien replied that they could not. The Commissioner suggested that delegates from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, end Dunedin should meet at Christchurch and endeavour to make a Dominion award. Air Gillies expressed the opinion that the best plan would be for the Arbitration Court to take evidence in different centres and then make an award. It was eventually decided to refer the dispute to the Arbitration Court for settlement.