WALLBOARD DISPUTE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29510, 11 May 1961, Page 18

WALLBOARD DISPUTE

No Agreement At Talks

No agreement was reached at talks held yesterday to try to settle a 13-day old dispute that has stopped production at the Opawa plant of New Zealand Wallboards, Ltd. This was announced late yesterday afternoon by the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr S, W. Armstrong) after he had adjourned the talks until a date to be fixed. Mr Armstrong presided at a voluntary conference between workers’ and employers representatives. Workers' representatives at the conference were Messrs L Short, F. McNulty, C. R. Thomas and R. J. Pitcairn. Other union representatives, among them members of transport unions, were observers at the talks. Employers’ representatives were Mr G. Mackill-Smith. the manager of the OpaWa plant (Mr M. J. Bridgeman) and Messrs K. Gillan and Mr N. M. West. Mr Armstrong said after the meeting: “So far they have not made any progress of any consequence. There have been a lot of misunderstandings cleared up on both sides. As a result of today’s discussion both sides have got quite a lot to think n”f*r and talk about among themselves. When they have done that then I might resume the talks,”

Eighteen workers at the Opawa plant are involved in the dispute. It is contended that they should be covered by the Canterbury Plasterers’ Award. However, the company wants the award covering its factories at Auckland and Lower Hutt extended to its Opawa factory, and it has applied to the Arbitration Court for exemption from the Canterbury Plasterers' Award, The Canterbury Master Plasterers’ Association has objected to the application.

The Arbitration Court hearing will be in Christchurch. but no date has yet been fixed.