AUCKLAND BUTCHERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19811, 1 December 1919, Page 5

AUCKLAND BUTCHERS.

—_ « A STORMY CONFERENCE. An unpleasant scene, arising from reflections made by the secretary to the Auckland Butchers’ Union, Mr W’. Sill, upon witnesses who have appeared before the Arbitration Court on the side of Auckland employers, occurred at the conference held on Thursday afternoon with a view to the settlement of the meat-trade strike, states the “New Zealand Herald.” Mr Sill was dilating upon mistakes which, he said, had been made by the Arbitration Court, and went on to state that the Court had not received much assistance from the employers’ side towards rectifying these errors. “You have always said,” he proceeded, “that you are losing money, but your business is growing every day.” Mr S. E. Wright, advocate lor the Master Butchers’ Association: The employers have given sworn evidence, which you say was perjury, that they were not making money. Mr Sill: The employers make state-, monte to the Court that they ore losing money. I say that these statements , are not true. Air Wright: That means perjury.! You say they are committing perjury‘f Mr Bill; I repeat that every time, in Court, they say they are losing j money. I will repeat that in that r<>spect it was not true. Mr Wright : A man who will make that statement is not worthy of being listened to or having the slightest reliance placed on his word. The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr T. Hnrle Giles): I do not think, Mr Sill, you have the right to say that the employers are speaking falsely. You might say simply that they make statements contrary to those you make That is all there is in n-. Air Sill: They go there and make statements and the Court bases its decisions upon the evidence given. 1 am not surprised, in some respects, because the employers have repeatedly told half-truths, and 1 expect the Court have to do the rest. I have heard statements from the employers which were absolutely untrue. Mr Wright (rising): We refuse to sit any longer with Mr Sill when ha makes those statements. The Commissioner (to the employers); Gentlemen, out of respect for me, I ask you to keep ’your seals. Mr Wright: No. Wo refuse to stay any longer unless Mr Sill withdrawn, his statements. The Commissioner (to Mr Sill): You must withdraw that statement. Mr Sill; 1 repeat what 1 said before. I am not going to withdraw it Here the whole rear of employers' representatives were on their feet and gathering up their papers. The Commissioner, addressing the employers, said ho considered they would bo justified in retiring unless Mr Bill withdrew his words. Re again asked Mr Sill to do so, or else leave the room. Mr Sill: I’ll leave the conference. I’m I only too pleased to get out. Suiting tho action to his words, Air Sill picked up his papers, and, after whispering to one of his co-delegates, left tho chamber. The Commissioner raid lie did not ■ think any gentleman of the union would associate himself with Mr Sill’s statement. AD J. Jarrett said they were unaware of what had happened in Court, and they could not say whether there was reason for Mr Sill’s statement Air Sill wag o. man who, when he had an opinion, would express it, no matter what camo of his doing so. Ho v-ia sure that, rightly or wrongly, Air .Ml 1 honestly believed be the I truth,

The Commissioner : But you can see that a statement of that kind cannot be tolerated at a conference such nit this. Air Jarrett said the other delegates of tho union were willing to sit on, if tiie representatives of the employers were, though ho was afraid it would be of no use. The Commissioner: If one of the employers’ representatives made a similar ntatement I would have acted in the same way, had the representatives of the union taken exception to it. Representatives of the ~„.-iion acquiesced in the propriety of the Commissioner’s action, and the conference sat on for another quarter of an hour, but no progress was made toward a settlement of the strike problem.