WILL THE CONFERENCE. EVENTUATE?

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13735, 29 May 1913, Page 5

WILL THE CONFERENCE. EVENTUATE?

LATEST INDICATIONS SUGGEST NOT.

Christc^urch, May 28.. ' The latest <lo\ak>pi:v:nts in connection with the' .suggested agreement between tho shipping -companies and the waterside workers on tho subject of employment of free labour point to the Hkolih'ood of the proposed conference t ( > be attended by representatives of the shipping companies not being held. It appears that the protests which have been' mado in different parts of the Dominion have had the effect of postponing consideration of the proposal, if not of leading those directly inter- j ested to drop' it altogether. In labour circles in Christchurch complete ignorance of the matter is the attitude taken xip by those approached for information. Mr. A. W. Bennett, of the ,Net Zealand Shipping Company, informed a reporter to-day that tho proposal for a conference* of shipping reprw-putativos in ChvistchuiT.h did rot emnnnte from the New Zealand Shipping Company, jbut, on the contrary, tho company did not consider it necessary to hoM a conference e,t nil. ( At a meeting to-day of tho comiv'ttcoof tho Canterbury Sheep-owners' Union tho following resolution was passed: "That this meeting emphatically protests against any agreement being made such- as has been suggested between tho shipoin?; companies, and the Federation of Labour."