SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9912, 29 July 1910, Page 3

SHEARERS' DISPUTE.

TERMS OF THE PRELIMINARY AGREEMENT.

Mr M. Laracy, secretary of the Shearers' Union, told a reporter this afternoon -that an agreement had now been reached by the parties as to the submission of the ease to the three Conciliatipn Commissioners. The agreement is in the following terms: — "On behalf of the New Zealand Shearers' Union and the New Zealand Sheepowneivs, we agree to accept, the finding of the Board of Inquiry, consisting of the three Conciliation Commissioners, in the same-way as all workers and employers within the meaning of the Arbitration Act are bound to accept tho findings of the Court: that is to say, we will accept' t're Commissioners' 'finding with no limitations or conditions of any kind whatsoever, other than those which are necessarily imposed by the ordinary language oj industrial awards and of the Ayt itself." / , This agreement was dratted by the Union itself. Mr Laracy explained, in substitution for the employers' proposals that it should bind itself "to take no steps to interfere with sheare.s, or prevent them from working for n minimum wage/' and it had now'"bc.vi accepted by the employers. It has' also been arranged by Mr Prvor (on behalf of the employers) and by' Mr Laracy (on behalf of the Union) that steps shall be taken to induce tho Board of Inquiry to sit in Wellington within the next two or three weeks: and that only a few representative witnesses should be. called by each party. In the meantime the Commksioners will he collecting any evidence which they themselves think rekr.-.rir.. Their recommendation will be made to the Court, ami the Court will conaide" it at its Wellington sitting on Septe'n. her til No definite agreement will It*made as to shearing rate* and jobations until after September 22.

THE SHED HANDS' CASE. . With regard to the shed hands dispute, Mr Laracy has sent the ioilouinw letter to iiis Honor Mr Justice *>V.-i, president of the Arbitration Court: -- "Sir.—With regard to the case of the shed hands considered by the Conciliation Council yesterday, my Union desires to know definitely whether or not the Arbitration Court will make an award in respect to these workers Tbp cmolovers contend that the tact of the Court- having declined to mane an .award in the ease of tho farm kbQurers iustifies them m assuming that the Court will decline to make an award for the shed hands or, indeed, for any farm or station servants. Our objections to this contention are shown in the report of the hearing before the Conciliation Commissioner, which I understand has been conveyed to you by the Commissioner. 1 enclose, however, newspaper report. Unless we know definitely that the Court is prepared to make an award it is useless my Union going to tho expense of -•onferrinc; with the- employers in the different industrial districts have been or are to ho filed. We are quite prepared to let one case be heard ns a dominion cam. ami have no doubt that the employers would agree to this. ff the- parties arc willing to mala 1 this agreement, we :,!:ould V-* dad to know if the Court is prepared to settle the matter sit its next sitting in Wolliui'ton, rvhen. hearing '.-In* shearers' dispute. Your Honor will

see tlnr; a definite pronouncement from 'lie Court v.tw ivill save the countrv a largo amount of oxneuse in the holding 'if sittings of the Conciliation Commissioners in the different districts only to T>ut on record that the employers 'W;line. «> discuss the matter'of an award at, all. If both par bios are sur" that the Court wili make an award they will be sunplied v-it-h v.U; nee; ;- sarv incentive to the making: <.••' an a'eiI'abie settlement, and merely asking the Court to rat'fv the ;!"roomo<]t made." "'