DRIVERS’ DISPUTE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 23, 7 November 1938, Page 5

DRIVERS’ DISPUTE.

WORK AS USUAL TO-DAY. REVOKING OF AWARD URGED, (Per Press Association.) , AUCKLAND, Nov: 6. Drivers in the northern industrial district will go back to work as usual to-morrow morning. About 700’ men were present at a meeting in the Trades Hall this- morning to determine their attitude towards the-recently-issued award, wlijch gave them ail increase of 5s a week ill wages, instead of the 10s they desire, and a 44-hour week instead of a 40-hour week. • The issue was whether they should cease work to-morrow morning or adopt more constitutional methods. After deliberating for nearly three hours they decided to have the Federation of Labour confer with the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) about the possibility of revoking the award. t.

Members of the union executive refused to make any statement. Independent inquiries were made, and led to the conclusion that the Federation of Labour will seek & conference with Mr Savage. It will he emphasised to Mr Savage that the men consider the wage rates inadequate, and that there is ample precedent for the Arbitration Court to grant the drivers a weekly working period of 40 houis. It was gathered also that federation representatives will ask the Prime Minister to take appropriate steps towards having the award revoked, since the drivers allege that it does not make allowance for working conditions and the cost of "living. The meeting to-day was addressed, by a representative of the national drivers’ organisation, which has its headquarters at Wellington, and by members ol the Auckland District Council of the Federation of Laboui.

‘FRIENDLY SPIRIT IN INDUSTRY.' CONDITIONS MAY BE EXPECTED. WELLINGTON, Nov. 6. Mr H. J. Knight, secretary of the New Zealand Master Carriers’ Industrial Association of Employers and of the New Zealand Road Transport Alliance, stated that the Arbitration Court had made its decision ] on the Drivers’ Award after hearing probably the most extensive and comprehensive evidence from both sides ever given in a drivers’ dispute. The Court’s time had been occupied for about seven days in the hearing, and although criticism had been levelled at the award by the drivers, there were also several important points on which the employers had, asked for amendments which were refused by the Court.. . The Court had apparently decided to be guided by the terms of the previous award, granting an increase in wages in line with its policy pronouncements. “I should again mention that the emplovees could have received the increase which was ultimately granted by the Court on the first occasion when the Conciliation Council met m March last; but they elected to go to the Court,” said Mr Knight. * I feel confident that the friendly spirit between employer, and, employee that has always existed in the transport industry will result in the acceptance of the terms and conditions of the I award by both parties, and the ultimate adjustment of any difficulties arising out of its operation.”