PARTIES AGREE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 57, 8 March 1944, Page 6

PARTIES AGREE

GASWORKS SCHEME

BENEFIT TO THE PUBLIC

"Preliminaries in connection with the new gas works production scheme have been successfully finalised," stated Mr. W. A. Leggett, deputy to Mr. C. H. Benney, supervisor of the scheme, this afternoon. "Both the management and the workers have accepted the Government's proposals wholeheartedly. "If this is an augury for continued co-operation, the scheme should effect the aims visualised by the Government, namely, to increase the production of gas for the consumers of Auckland and to bring about industrial harmony to benefit eventually both the workmen and the shareholders of the company." The chairman of the gas company, Mr. V. J. Larner. said to-day that the Government's proposals had been whole-heartedly agreed to in general by his board, and he sincerely hoped that the inauguration of the scheme ushered in a new era of co-operation between management and men, from which beneficial results would accrue to all concerned. The company, added Mr. Larner. was leaving no stone unturned in its determina-. tion to give the public of Auckland a better gas supply, and in this connection it had arranged for a thorough overhaul by one of the most outstanding and eminent gas engineers in Australia to-day. Actually, stated Mr. Larner, Mr. C. F. Broadhead, late chief engineer of the Metropolitan Gas Company, Melbourne, and at present managing director of the Colonial Gas Association, was arriving to-day by plane for this very purpose, 'it was expected that Mr. Broadhead's investigations would occupy two or three weeks. Main Points of Scheme The main provisions of the scheme were outlined by Mr. Leggett. Supervision of the works by Mr. C. H. Benney, Mining Controller, under the authority of the Mining Emergency Regulations, 1939, will operate for six months from March 1, when the situation will be reviewed. This .supervision will be exercised through the production council to be set up. A war production bonus of 3d an hour will be paid by the company to the workmen, provided the quantity of gas produced does not fall below a iigure set by the production council and approved by the supervisor. Should the output fall below this figure through no fault of the workmen the bonus will continue to be paid. Should the economies expected under the scheme not materialise the company will have a claim or the Government for an adjustment of the loss entailed by the bonus plan. It is not anticipated that such a claim will be necessary. The constitution of the works council has not yet been finalised, but both parties are fully in agreement as to the principles set out, which, after all, are only those generally recognised in the constitution of such body. The council will be fully representative of both parties. The bonus system is to be made retrospective to March 1, and payment will be made to the workmen on their next pay day, Friday. Should there be any conflict between the production council and the management, the decision of the supervisor will be final. The council will meet not less than once a fortnight.