PROPOSAL FOR SETTLEMENT

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26357, 27 February 1951, Page 6

PROPOSAL FOR SETTLEMENT

MOVE BY LABOUR FEDERATION

TALKS WITH GOVERNMENT AND WATERSIDERS

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 26. The Federation of Labour to-day proposed to the Government and the Waterside Workers’ Union a formula for settlement of the waterfront deadlock. The federation asked the Government and the union to agree to a conference between the watersiders’ and shipowners’ representatives on waterfront wages, with an independent chairman, who would have power to bring down a decision should the parties disagree. The federation, in a statement, said that in accordance with the sgreement reached at a meeting of representatives )t affiliated unions on Friday, and in accordance with arrangements then made with the Government, officers of the federation met the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) and the Minister of Labour (Mr W. Sullivan) this afternoon. There was a very long discussion with the Ministers in an attempt to find a formula to end the dispute. The federation statement said that early this evening it was awaiting the watersiders’ final reply. The statement said that the national executive was hopeful that reason would prevail on all sides, and that a solution would soon be found to avoid an industrial upheaval that would bring in its train disaster to the country snd to the welfare of the people. After meeting the Government representatives, the federation waited on national officers and members of the Waterside Workers’ Union, and placed before them the proposition submitted to the Government.

Mr Barnes’s Comment Commenting on the federation’s statement. Mr H. Barnes, president of the Waterside Workers’ Union, said that the only official communication received from the federation hsd been a telegram last Saturday offering to negotiate a settlement. This would be replied to to-day. "The federation officers saw us today in a purely private capacity.” said Mr Barnes. “They were asked to declare themselves for nr against us.” Mr Barnes said that the matter had been taken beyond any question of tribunals by the Government’s legislation. Nevertheless, the watersiders had previously offered to meet the shipowners with an Industrial Magistrate acting, as chairman, under the same conditions as applied when the lampblack dispute was satisfactorily settled Mr T. G. Potter, president of the New Zealand Trade Union Congress, said: “We wish to tell the Government mat if they desire negotiations they had better cease using the Federation of Labour as message boys and approach the watersiders through their parent body, the Trade Union Congress.”