R.H.A. Chairman's Conciliation Proposal
Page 31
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Round-table Conference Suggested in Exclusive Interview with "The Commercial Motort, IAA USEFUL suggestion for straightening out the existing conciliation difficulties was made by Mr. R. W. Sewill, M.A., chairman of the Road Haulage Association, in an exclusive interview with a representative of The Commercial Motor, on Tuesday evening. He expressed strong disapproval
of unbending attitude that appears to have been taken up by the various interests in discussing the report of the National Conciliation Board.
In proposing that a round-table conference should be held, Mr. Sewill said : " The wages controversy appears to have been pursuing its weary course, accompanied by threats and counterthreats of resignations, actual and implied, and by a general feeling of bitterness on all sides. I think that all sides are to blame, and it is not my wish to add further fuel to the fire of controversy already burning.
" I feel that a more enlightened policy on the part of the Conciliation Board, after the publication of its report, might have prevented much of the acrimony now existing. On the other hand, what I may call the Nottingham conference was not supremely tactful in requesting the reorganization of the National Board at this stage.
"Men of goodwill in the industry are making some endeavour to extricate it from the appalling position in which it finds itself through this wages controversy. Sooner or later, the wages queStion must be settled, and I suggest that there is only one way of dealing with it, without leaving a feeling of bitterness which may persist for years, and which would do incalculable harm to the industry.
" There are three courses before us: (1) the forcing through of the Conciliation Board's report, against the wishes of the majority of employers; (2) complete failure to reach an agreement and the consequent setting up of a trade board; (3) an agreement reached by ' conciliation ' on all sides, which they would willingly, accept and to which they would loyally adhere.
" Supporters of the Conciliation Board's findings would have to give way somewhat on the strict letter of the report, whilst the followers of the Nottingham conference would not expect to receive all the concessions for which they might ask. Such an agreement reached by mutual goodwill on all sides would, in the end, he the happiest for the industry and most likely to lead to better conditions for masters and men.
"I have no hesitation in saying," continued Mr. Sewill, " that so far as the Minister of Labour is concerned, he would prefer to see a satisfactory agreement reached voluntarily in the industry, rather than that he should have to set up a trade board.
" I, therefore, suggest that a roundtable conference might be arranged between the three parties (the labour interests, employers supporting the National Board's findings, and the followers of the Nottingham recommendations), with a view to a full discussion of all the difficulties, in a real attempt to reach some compromise which would be accepted with goodwill by all parties. It might be advisable for the employers to meet first and, subSequently, to invite the labour interests to join them, when they were able to make concrete suggestions for a compromise.
"I must make it quite clear," added Mr. Sewill, with some emphasis, " that I have not in mind the complete wrecking of the Conciliation Board's report, but I do insist that some amendment is necessary if the objections of such a large body of opinion throughout the country are to be met."
Mr. Sewill concluded with an appeal to all interests, " if they have a real desire to settle this matter in a statesmanlike manner, to discard prejudice and hard-and-fast opinions, and to approach the subject in a true spirit of conciliation, thus making the Board worthy of its title."