LABOUR DISPUTE AT KAWERAU

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27639, 21 April 1955, Page 3

LABOUR DISPUTE AT KAWERAU

WORKERS CRITICISE MINISTER FAILURE TO CONVENE CONFERENCE (New Zealand Press Association) HAMILTON, April 20. Lack of confidence in the Minister of Labour (Mr W. Sullivan) was expressed by workers at a meeting at Kawerau yesterday. Men engaged on housing construction work in the Kawerau paper mill township met to discuss action over the failure to bring employers and workers together in negotiation. The men want the Government to call a compulsory conference to discuss the non-payment of a 6 per cent, bonus to workers on the town site. Men working on the mill site at Kawerau have been paid the bonus. About 350 men, including carpenters, painters, labourers, and drivers, are involved in the dispute. The meeting yesterday was addressed by Mr W. Molineux, of Wellington, acting national secretary of the Carpenters’ Union. Other speakers were Mr R. Tibby, of the South Auckland branch of the Carpenters’ Union, and Mr T. Potter, of Auckland, representing the Labourers’ Union. A resolution expressing lack of confidence in the Minister, who is also the member for the district, because of his failure to call a compulsory meeting between the employees and the men involved was passed unanimously. It was also resolved to call upon the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash) to ask the Government to put into effect its assurances that the Government had every facility for settling industrial disputes. A resolution in similar terms will be sent to the Prime Minister (Mr Holland), asking for urgent action.