THE FARM LABOURERS' DISPUTE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9253, 4 June 1908, Page 1

THE FARM LABOURERS' DISPUTE.

CONCILIATION BOARD FAILS TO REPORT. It is understood that the Conciliation Board has determined to forward the reports of the evidence taken in the farm labourers' dispute and the reports of the addresses of the representatives of the parties to the president of the Arbitration Court, with, an explanation of the circumstances that have prevented it making any recommendation or report of its own in accordance with its order of references. Tho Board was asked by the Court to make recommendations on the questions, of wages, hours of work and general conditions of labour, and to report a>s to whether there wag any general dissatisfaction among the men, but it is stated that certain difficulties which have arisen have prevented it carrying out its full commission. The Minister of -Labour has readily granted such extensions of time as havo been i asked for by the Board, but, for some reason which has not been made public,, the Board did not ask fqr any further time after the expiration of its last extension on May 31. It is rumoured that the chairman took up the position that he was not required to express any opinion upon the questions in dispute, and as the. other members of the Board were representatives of the parties, and more or less advocates of their cause, there was no possibility of agreeing even to a majority report.