WANGANELLA DISPUTE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 166, 28 April 1947, Page 4

WANGANELLA DISPUTE

GOVERNMENT DECISION (P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Until there is compliance with the original condition under which the Wanganella special payment claims tribunal was established, namely that normal work on the liner should be continued, no hearing of the tribunal would be proceeded with according to a Government decision announced today. The three trades union representatives on the tribunal did not attend when the tribunal Avas scheduled to resume this morning after a week’s adjournment, but the employers’ representatives Avere present. TAventy minutes after the intended commencement time, the chairman, Mr S. Ritchie, made a formal statement to the employers’ representatives and to the press that the Minister of Labour, the Hon. A. McLagan, had advised the decision stated. This afternoon the NeAv Zealand Employers’ Federation issued a statement calling on the Government to direct the workers to return to duties on the Wanganella, and at Cable and Co. The statement said the time had come for the Avorkers to be fully apprised of the legal implications of their course of conduct. The federation said it had been advised that the concerted action of the workers A\ T as a strike under the I.C. and A. Act, and the Strike and Lockout Emergency Regulations. Action could be taken against the Workers’ Union officials and the unions, involving monetary penalties or gaol for not more than three months for the former tAVO and suspension for not more than tAvo years for the unions. In the latter case no action could be taken to enforce the appropriate awards, and no other unions for similar purposes could he formed during suspension. The statement added that damages could he claimed by the . company against the unions and their agents.