CONCILIATION BOARD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9213, 16 April 1908, Page 4

CONCILIATION BOARD.

FARM LABOURERS' DISPUTE

The Conciliation Board sat again yesterday to hear further evidence in the farm labourers' dispute, all the members being present.

Mr T. B. How son's evidence was referred to in. the afternoon, John Oberhuber submitting a rebuttal of the statements made by Mr Howson as to his employment of the witness. Mr Howson had stated that the only occasion on which he employed Oberhuber on wages was for an hour and a half, at the end of which time the man went to other work; and he also said that the man had been resident in one of his cottages and was in arrear with his rent. The witness stated that the particular job referred to had been given him by Mr Howson to do in his spare time, and was to be done at 5s a day. He had left it to take another job at Is an hour. He put in two receipts showing that he had received £5 6s and £2 14s from either Mr Howson or his son for work done on the farm. Witness said that he had on several other occasions worked for Mr Howson, generally at 5s a day. As for the rent, he was not able, as a working man, to pay a lump sum ; he had repeatedly, and even as late as yesterday morning, offered to work off the debt, but his offer had been absolutely declined. , The chairman said that this evidence had been quite properly called. Mr Howson's evidence had resulted in the present witness's earlier statements being held up to ridicule, and it was clear that Mr Howson had been mistaken.

A. Macadam, head man at Stonyhurst, gave rebutting evidence in reference to the evidence of William Eldred, given. in Christchurch some days ago. The Board adjourned till 10 a.m. today.