NO STOPPAGE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 16, 29 October 1938, Page 2

NO STOPPAGE

THE DRIVERS IN AUCKLAND. MINISTER CONFERS WITH UNION. (Per Press Association.' AUCKLAND, October 28. No stoppage of work by the members of the Auckland Drivers’ Union, who at a meeting on Thursday night voiced complaints about delay in the promulgation of their award, is anticipated by the Minister for Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong). Ho said to-night, immediately before leaving for Wellington, that be had met the executive of the union and did not consider the position was at all serious.

Mr Armstrong arrived at Auckland on Thursday night to transact departmental business, and he said that he had no idea until to-day that the executive of the union wished to confer with him. Because he did not refuse to see the members of any union, he had arranged for the l executive to meet him at 5 p.m. The meeting lasted until about 6.15 p.m.

The main cause for the complaint by the union seemed to bo that the promulgation of the award had been unduly delayed. The executite had also told him that it could not see why the 40-hour week was not applicable to the industry. A further cause of complaint mentioned at the meeting was the administration by the Labour Department of certain conditions of their work.

Mr Armstrong said he had told the executive that the officers of his department had informed him that a Dominion award for drivers would be declared by the Second Court of Arbitration early next week, possibly on Tuesday or Wednesday. Inquiries made by his department had resulted in the information that the Court was even now working on tho award.

Asked what (lotion he would take if discussions by the union took a more serious turn, Mr Armstrong said he did not propose to interfere with the work of the Court. It was not for him to influence the Arbitration Court in any way, and while it was understood that a 40-hour week should operate in those industries where it wa9 practicable, he thought it was for him to stand* by the Court. I

He jCertainly did not think that ho should do more than that, and it was now for tiie union to decide what it was going to do. He was finished with the matter, and he did not expect to have to do any more. Mr Armstrong said that this was also his attitude so far as the question of wages went. Tt was entirely a matter for the Arbitration Court. Questioned whether he had informed tho executive of tho union as to his attitude on both these questions, Mr Armstrong said that he had implied it. The executive knew quite well how he regarded the whole position. However, he did not expect to have to do any more

DELAY IN MAKING THE AWARD. EMPLOYERS NOT RESPONSIBLE. WELLINGTON, This Day. The statement that the employers were in no way responsible for any delay in the making of a new award for drivers was made by H. J. Knignt secretary of the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance and the New! Zealand • Master Carriers and Customs Agents’ Federation of Employers) in commenting on the Auckland Press Association message from Auckland indicating the possibility of a strike by drivers.