INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20292, 28 December 1927, Page 9

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES.

“ UNUSUALLY DULL PERIOD.” EXCELLENT RELATIONS BETWEEN PARTIES. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, December 17. The scarcity of money during the past 12 months has had a marked effect upon the number of industrial disputes, according to Mr P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, who, in the course of an interview. described the year under review as an unusually dull period. “ During my 23 years’ experience as commissioner in gaged in the settlement of industrial troubles between employers and workers, said Mr Hally, “ I have never experienced such a dull period, so to speak, as during the past year. In making this statement I do not wish it to be assumed that either the employers or the workers were satisfied with present conditions. Far from it. The worker would like more wages and the employer more work for the wages he is now paying, and so on. The main reason why there has been a smaller amount of industrial trouble thifj 'ear as compared with past periods is the fact that trade and business generally have not been good, money has been scarce, and sources of credit have been rather restricted. Employers of labour hav e not escaped the effect of these md other troubles, and of course those dependent upon them have felt the results if the general depression, so much so that those responsible for the welfare of tile workers’ organisations have in very many instances refrained from asking for im provements in conditions of work, realising that under present conditions this could not be met by employers. “ Fortunately, in the opinion of many persons capable of expressing an opinion, the corner has now been turned,” added Mr Hally. “It is only to be expected that the worker will receive his quota of the good things in store. “ Tile relationship between the worKer and his employer throughout New Zealand has been splendid. No serious trouble between the parties has been experienced. A slight difficulty did happen at the oig hydro-electric works at Arapuni, and notwithstanding the statement published that the strike would have been settled very easily but for my unwarranted inter ference I would like to publish the fact that I did not interfere until I was instructed. That matter and the difficulty that existed at the freezing works during a portion of last season were the only difficulties of any magnitude during the year.” Mr Hally expressed gratitude for the publicity given by the press to any question that tended toward improving the relationship between employer and worker.