AN ABORTIVE CONFERENCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2738, 17 February 1910, Page 3

AN ABORTIVE CONFERENCE.

HOTEL AND RESTAURANT EMPLOY EES DISSATISFIED.

| Tjjr Tuicss Association. |

WELLINGTON, Fob. 16. Yesterday a conference consisting of delegates from tho Hotel and Restaurant Keepers’ Association and from tlio Trade Unions was held. Tho union delegates suggested, as a basis for a new award, to apply generally to Auckland, Wellington, anti Dunedin, a reduction in tlio number of hours (do) per week stipulated by an. old award, anti certain extra holidays. In elfect, according to the union representatives at the conference, the. reply was: “You can have, the old award or nothing.” The conference, from which so much was expected, proved abortive and futile. '.l tie circumstances' leading up to the conference began in Auckland, where the industrial agreement brought into operation some Ilf months ago, oecause or a technicality, lias now no force in law. A similar unqiue position has occurred in Wellington, where the time for which the trade award was made expired last month. To add to the position, by the end of the current month tho Dunedin award, too, will have expired. Thus it happens that by the end of the current month the union in eaoli of the three centres (Christchurch is not part of the federation) are placed in the position of having to arrange for fresh awards in the industry. The unions of the three centres mentioned form the Now Zealand Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Employees’ Unions, and an tho face of tlio position above noted the conference took charge of proceedings with a view to arranging between the employers and employees in the three centres an arrangement for a common award that should govern each place at the beginning of tlio year. Negotiations for such a conference were begun; a set of demands was drafted by the executive of the employees’ federation and presented to each local union, and after slight discussion these demands were ratified and put before the association as the basis for a new award in the trade. Then the conference was decided upon, ami the several unions elected special delegates to represent them at tho conference, which was held yesterday.. Mr. P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner, presided. The meeting lasted an hour, arid proved futile and abortive. The result was a big disappointment to the union delegates. The conference opened with hopes of an amicable arrangement, hut according to n statement'by one of tlio union representatives ended in bitterness.