WORK STOPPAGE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 215, 11 September 1945, Page 6

WORK STOPPAGE

"NO EARTHLY REASON"

COMMENT BY MINISTER

Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, this day. "I can see no earthly reason for the men stopping work when the tribunal has been set up to hear the dispute, and when the chairman has been appointed and is available without delay," said the Minister of Transport, Mr. O'Brien, in commenting on the appointment of Mr. J. A. Gilmour, the industrial magistrate, as chairman of the tribunal to hear the Auckland bus drivers' dispute. The Minister added that Mr. Gilmour was a man very well experienced in such matters. He reiterated that, as there was little difference between the owners and the men, he was sure that, with Mr. Gilmour's assistance, the parties would be able to reach an amicable settlement. Mr. Gilmour was available at any date. "I feel that the dispute can be settled without disrupting transport and without inflicting any hardship on the people who have got to travel to get to work," said Mr. O'Brien. "If the men stop, it will also mean that supplies of foodstuffs to the Old Country and to the starving peopl" of Europe will be affected, and such a state of affairs would be ridiculous."