SHEARERS' DEPUTE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12562, 15 July 1910, Page 7

SHEARERS' DEPUTE.

ARBITRATION COURT

(Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, July 14. The dispute between the Shearers' Union and shipowners on the question of wages and rations came before the Arbitration Court to-day, Mr Justice Sim presiding. Messrs La racy and Waddell appeared for the Union, and Mtisrs Pry or and Griffin for the employers. The employers offered 17s Gd per hundred, and the men demanded £1. Mr Lara.oy mentioned the Hon. J. A. Millar's telegram to th© effect that the North Island employers were agreeablo to a conference for conditions for tho whole of the Dominion. He suggested that a conference be neld to arrive at a settlement.

Mr Justice Sim asked whether the Union had not declined to accept the rates.

Mr Laracy said he would be prepared to lioJd a conference on Saturday.

The Judge said it was a question whether the Court should make an award at all in view of the attitude of Union. When any parties approached the Arbitration Court it was their duty to accept the award mads, and not coerce the men to refuso work under it. Tho Union practically said it would prevent the men working unless their demands were agreed to. In thnt position lie had no business to go near the Court.

IrTr Laracy said that the Court in laying down the wages bad always said a man was justified in getting as much as be '-ould for'his labour.

Tlie Judge said Mr Laracy did not appreciate the distinction between an individual worker and tha Union telling him lie must not work for the .".ward rats The Union's resolutions were to that effect.

Mr Laracy .said the employers practically refused a conference. He wanted the Court to adjourn the case till -1 conference had been held.

Mr Pryor, for the employers, said that unless the Union was prepared to discuss the question, of wages a conference would be useless.

Mr Laracy said he might get authority to take less than 20s per hundred. He asked how the Union .had olfended the Court?

Mr Justice Sim replied that if Mr Laracy had not sense enough to see where* the Union was wrong he should not conduct tho case. The Union, in asking for an award, must be prepared to accept it. It had no right to dictate to men.

Mr Laracy said the members themselves had resolved not to take less than 20s, and the Union had endorsed that.

Mr Justice Sim : Exactly

Mr Laracy said tho men had declared they would not work under tbe award.

The Judge replied: The best thing for the men of thas sort was freedom of contract. Then they would be glad to coma and a.sk for an award. Mr Laracy, to his mind, could not appreciate* the difference between the individual and tho Union Such things would ruin th« Arbitration Act. It would be a great pity if the men lost tho services of Mr D'Arcy.

After discussion, Mr Laracy said he would g<-t authority to discuss the question of wages. Tho Court then adjourned to allow the conference report to be made to tho Court on July 26th.