STATEMENT BY MR MILLAR. WELLINGTON, January 15.

Otago Witness, Issue 2862, 20 January 1909, Page 27

STATEMENT BY MR MILLAR. WELLINGTON, January 15.

Some further details in connection with the appointment of Conciliation Commissioners were gi\en to a New Zealand Times repiescntative by the ex-Minister of Labour (the Hon. J. A. Millar). What is the salary attached to the office ? queried the pressman, and Mr Millar named £500 per annum, adding that the two commissioners took up their duties immediately. Where they are to be stationed is another matter which greatly interests the j industrial world, and the Minister, when asked if he could enlighten it on the subject, replied that he did not know definitely. " There might be a third appointment,"' he continued. "At first it was thought that two commissioners would be sufficient. Personally, I favour appointing three, but that is one of the j questions for my colleague, the new Minister of Labour, to inquire into and decide." "Whatever happens," continued Mr Millar, " the commissioners will have well-defined districts, :-:o that they can I i get clo3ely into touch with industrial I ' affairs and secure unitoimity of awards. | 1 Where the products of an industry are j interchangable you must keep the con- j ditions of " manufacture, such as wages i and hours, approximately ths same all i over the Dominion, otherwise there is an unfair advantage to one district or an- j other — a position which we seek to pre- * vent." j Then the commissioners will keep in ! close touch with each other ? ! ■"Yes; but if an agreement has to be j made affecting the same industry through- i out the country, such as exists among ! the seamen and bootmakers, it will be ! for the Arbitration Court to hear the i evidence. These arrangements have so . far been fully agreed upon between the > employers and the workers. it ii a delicate and important experiment, but I feel that the whole thing will work out successfully. It lies practically in the hands of the CoiKi-iaiir n Commis- j sioners, and if they bhow ta^t and judg- [ jneiit it will be a success. "'