WATERSIDE WORKERS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15131, 27 January 1917, Page 2

WATERSIDE WORKERS.

EMPLOYERS AND FEDERATION DISAGREE. (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January 26. The conference between the representatives of the employers of waterside labour and the representatives of the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Federation commenced at Wellington on Thursday. After the Waterside Federation representatives had presented their case, the employers requested an adjournment until the afternoon. When the conference was resumed, the employers intimated that they could not take the responsibility of agreeing to an increase in wages or alter the working conditions, and suggested that the Federation take the necessary steps to have the matter referred to the Conciliation Council, and, if necessary to the Arbitration Court. This the representatives of the Waterside Workers’ Federation could not see their way to agree to, and a further adjournment nutil this afternoon was decided upon to enable both parties to consider the position. < Upon resuming this afternoon the employers intimated that they had decided that if the Federation could not see its way to agree to the suggestion already made, the employers would take steps to have the matter dealt with under the provisions of tne Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, and if the Federation representatives agreed, then both parties should apply to the Court to appoint two expert assessors, one representing each side. After a short adjournment, the Federation representatives returned and stated that they could not see their way to agree to the matter being dealt with by the Conciliation Council/ or Arbitration Court. / The Conference then concluded.