IDLE TAXIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 189, 12 August 1939, Page 10

IDLE TAXIS.

LIGHTNING STRIKE.

HAMILTON TROUBLE.

PAY AND HOURS DISPUTE.

PROPRIETOR INDIGNANT.

(By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.)

HAMILTON, this day.

The number of taxi cabs operating in Hamilton is reduced by more than half as a result of a lightning strike yesterday afternoon of 20 drivers employed by the Checker Taxi Company- The strike was continued to-day.

The employees' action is the outcome of a dispute regarding wages and hours of work, following representations made to the management by the secretary of the Auckland Drivers' Union, Mr. L. G. Matthews.

Intense indignation at the manner in which the strike had been launched was expressed to-day by the proprietor of the company concerned, Mr. H. Deverell.

"This," said Mr. Deverell, "is one of the worst cases of its kind I have known in the country. The men are simply being ma<Je the catspaws of militant trades unionism, which, on the admission of the secretary himself, refuses to admit any other . authority. Mr. Matthews has been quoted as saying that the strike is the result of trouble which has been going on for several months, but as a matter of fact he did not approach me or any drivers before Wednesday afternoon. He has not approached the Licensing Authority, Mr. E. J. Phelan, at any time with ■respect to the new conditions, which lie claims. Mr. Matthews marched into my office on Wednesday and laid down his conditions and stated that unless they were acceded to he would call the men out on Saturday morning," continued Mr. Deverell. "I pointed out that Mr. Phelan, who is the direct representative of the Minister of Transport, had stated on many occasions that he was prepared to review the conditions of licenses any time, but Mr. Matthews said he was not concerned with ycty authorities in New Zealand and did not recognise them."

Within Five Minutes. The speaker stated that he informed Mr. Matthews that he was prepared to accept any conditions the Licensing Authority might impose, knowing they would be made conditions of Licenses held by both owner-drivers and proprietors. In reply to this, however, the union secretary declared lie refused to take the matter to any authority in New Zealand and that, failing compliance with his demands, the men would be called out on Saturday morning.

"Instead of that, however, he called the men out within five minutes of receiving a telegram from the Licensing Authority," said Mr. Deverell. "When he did call the men out he did not disclose the contents of that telegram, which are as follows:—'The Minister of Transport authorises the No. 1 Licensing Authority to hold meetings in Hamilton immediately to investigate the wages and conditions of taxi-drivera and to make recommendations to the Minister, provided there is no interruption in the service in the meantime.'

"It is evident that his action in calling the men out within five minutes of receipt of that telegram was calculated to forestall any move by the Licensing Authority. Now and in the future I refuse to negotiate when any strike is called by Mr. Matthews, and as far as the present trouble 5s concerned I will allow the cars to rot and rust before I will comply with his demands," continued Mr. Deverell. Meeting Held by Men.

"I have been a driver myself and am sympathetic towards the men."

The 20 men employed by the Checker Company held a special meeting to-day when the secretary of the Auckland Drivers' Union, Mr. Matthews, and Mr. C. Croall, a member of the Hamilton Borough Council, conferred with the drivers. A unanimous decision was reached by the men to ask Mr. Croall t-o approach the manager of the company, Mr. Deverell, with a view to holding a conference between the interested parties.

Tn no uncertain manner the men expressed a desire to reach a settlement, nut definitely re-affirmed their previous decision to accept nothimr less than £5 a week on the basis of a 60 hours' week. In a statement issued after the meeting, Mr. Matthews said the union had already assured the management of the taxi company that the conditions claimed would apply only until such time as the two companies were merged. At the moment the dispute was confined strictly to the union and the Checker company, and there was no intention on the part of the union to allow it to spread to the other drivers in the transport industry unless and until any concerted move was made to break down the stand taken by the men. In that case the position would be reviewed by the executive of the Auckland Drivers' Union.

In reply to Mr. Deverell, Mr. Matthews stated that he was acting for tlie men on their request. Referring to Mr. Dcaerell s allegation that he was not concerned with the Licensing Authority, Mr. Matthews said he had everv respect for the authority, but in this" instance the dispute was an industrial one between the men and the company and not one affecting the license held by the company. Therefore it was not under the jurisdiction of the authoritv.