NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26362, 5 March 1951, Page 6

NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE

Attempt To Reach Setdement END OF STRIKE EXPECTED SOON

From Our Own Reporter WELUNGTON, March 4. Behind the scenes negotiations in the trade union field continued yesterday in Wellington to find some solution to the waterfront strike. As yet there is no report of any spectacular progress being made. Nevertheless, the impression is growing in Wellington that a settlement will be reached soon, unless unforeseen support comes for the watersiders. A major factor in the situation is the legal position which has resulted in deregistration of the Waterside Workers Union.

The president of the Seamen’s Union (Mr F. P. Walsh) has taken the lead in bringing together the parties involved to the strike and also other unions which might become' involved were the trouble to spread. Trade unions marshalled behind the New Zealand Federation of Labour have shown no eagerness to become parties to the strike, and the action taken by some in instructing members not to handle goods which have been declared “black” is regarded as traditional rather than positive evidence of support for the strikers. It is felt in informed circles that the other large unions are not prepared to face the dissolution which has been forced upon the Waterside Workers’ Union. The greatest measure of discomfort so far reported as a result of the strike has been experieneed in the highly industrialised Hutt Valley, where tomorrow there will be no gas for either domestic or industrial use. Thousands of people will suffer. This situation is caused bv the exhausting of coal supplies. Some industries will probably be forced to close down, and those persons who rely on gas for cooking will have to use fires m their back yards, or some other alternative method of preparing hot meals. Wellington gas users may also suffer if the workers at the citv gas works persist in refusing to handle coal unloaded by servicemen, .but that situation has not yet developed. The major shortage which Wellington will face in the coming l week is meat supplies which have been exhausted except in the case of one or two major meat concerns.