LACK OF TACT

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10959, 6 October 1928, Page 5

LACK OF TACT

REMARKS AT SITTING OF CONCILIATION COUNCIL. ElecTric Telegraph—Frees Association CHRISTCHURCH. October 5. “Even if tlie Arbitration Court includes it in the award, it will not be binding. The men won’t work under the system if they don’t want to do so.” The above remarks were made by R. F. Barter (Auckland), one of the assessors of the workers, when Air J. F. Couisins, secretary of the New Zealand AJotor Trades Association, stated at a sitting of the Conciliation Council this morning (bat the employers proposed to ask the Arbitration Court to provide for piece-work or the premium bonus system in the Alotor Mechanics' Award. Air Barter declared bis uncompromising hostility to the premium bonus system, and said that the workers in the New Zealand motor industry did not wish to have the American methods introduced. Then he made the remark. “You mean a strike, ' remarked Mr E. King (Wellington), one of the employers’ assessors. “I’m not using the word strike,” Mr Baiter replied. Air King; “Well, that is what your statement means.” In view of the attitude of the union. Air Cousins said that it was useless discussing the matter fmther at that stage. He intimated that the proposal would be submitted to the Arbitration Court. “A WRONG IMPRESSION.” CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. “Quite a wrong impression has been created,” said Air Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, at the conclusion of to-day’s sitting, “by the publication of a. statement attributed to Mr Barter regarding a strike occurring if piece work were adopted in the motor manufacturing trade in New Zealand. As a matter of fact, the remarks on both sides were made more in a jocular manner. Piece work will be discussed very seriously by both sides at to-morrow’s sitting and the prospects are that a very reasonable solution of the difficulty will be arrived at.” Air Hally reported that generally good progress bad been made at the council meeting to-dav. The sitting will be resutiled to-morrow.