ONUS PLACED ON CARPENTERS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 14929, 17 March 1949, Page 3

ONUS PLACED ON CARPENTERS

CONTINUATION OF DISPUTE

Appeal By Federation

Of Labour

Support Given By Timbei Workers

(P. A.)

Wellington, March 16

The Federation of Labour today again called upon the carpenters to hand over their dispute to its national executive and to resume normal work. The national council of the Carpenter's Union has replied that this proposal must be referred to the workers affected. A meeting of Auckland carpenters will be held at Carlaw Park at 9 o'clock on Saturday morning to receive a re"port on the discussions in Wellington and to decide their answer to this proposal. The suggestion by the feedration was contained in a letter from the secretary, Mr K. McL. Baxter, delivered to the carpenters this morning. The letter quoted the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, as saying that the Government was under an obligation to see that the laws ol the country were obeyed. He added that the dispute had resolved itself into a fight against the arbitration system. Describing the dispute as having brought about a "unique situation in the industrial history of New Zealand," the federation issued a warning about the grave danger o[ involving other workers. It added that if the cargenters failed to hand over the dispute the responsibility for spreading it and involving the trade union movement in a figh' with the Government would rest on their shoulders. According to a message from Auckland support for the action taken by the national executive of the Federation of Labour in the carpenters' dispute was given by the Auckland branch of the New Zea land Timber Workers' Union last night. The meeting, which filled the hall of the Auckland Laboui Club, was addressed by representatives of the Carpenters' Union. For the second time within eight days, road passenger and goods transport in the city and suburbs will be almost at a standstill this morning while drivers attend a special meeting of their union to discuss the boycott against firms refusing to employ dismissed carpenters.