Settlement In Wellington Transport Dispute Likely

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29270, 30 July 1960, Page 14

Settlement In Wellington Transport Dispute Likely

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 29. Wellington’s, public passenger transport dispute is likely to be settled and fie changeover from trams to buses oh the Lyall Bay route, scheduled for Sunday, may proceed according to plan. After a series of meetings today, the City Council transport committee made;an offer to the combined action committee of the City Council unions which, it seems, will be favourably considered by the Wellington branch of the Tramway Workers’ Union. The chairman of the combined action committee (Mr P. M.‘Butler) said tonight that “we are pleased to receive this indication of good will and are hopeful that it will be the basis of a settlement.” The secretary of the Tramway Workers' Union (Mr P. A. Hansen) said he was ' naturally pleased that there had been a break in the deadlock. Asked if the Lyall Say buses would be manned oh Monday after the changeover on Sunday. Mr Hansen said it would be “the worst thing possible” if he tried to make up other men’s minds, for them. It was not for him. as one person, to say what would happen. The matter would be referred immediately to his executive for consideration and decision. “I hope to have this decision in a few hours," he said. The members of his union were extremely grateful that the merit of the case they had put forward should have been recognised by their fellow unions, Mr Hansen said. The real root of the dispute at this stage had been the right to negotiate. It was not so much a case of one-man or two-man

operation, blit a demand for the right to arbitration. The offer transmitted to the unions by the; City Council transport committee tonight accepted a suggestion made by the union representatives at a meeting today that the dispute concerning the question of two-man bus operation should be referred to a disputes committee under clause 39 of the award, and the chairman of that committee should be given the right to make a final decision. . K “The Wellington City Council considers that this is not a matter that can properly be dealt with through the disputes clause of the award,” said a spokesman. “The council is still of the opinion that this matter should be dealt with through conciliation and, if no agreement is reached in conciliation, then it should be referred to the Arbitration. Court!” To have the matter settled quickly, the council, as a member of the Public Passenger Transport Industrial Union of Employers, was prepared to facilitate the earliest possible meeting of the Conciliation Council, and if the union representatives agreed, the meeting could, no doubt, be arranged for some time next week. On the other hand, if the union wanted the matter dealt with through the dispute clause of the award, the council would agree to the question being dealt with in that manner so as to avoid inconvenience to the public of Wellington. “This agreement would, of course, be subject to the union placing no obstacle in the transfer of the Lyall Bay route to oneman operated buses on Monday and to the frill operation of the disputes clause, which permits either side to appeal to the Arbitration Court against any decision made by the disputes committee.”