No Firm Proposals For Settlement Of Dispute

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29938, 27 September 1962, Page 12

No Firm Proposals For Settlement Of Dispute

(N.Z. Prfess Association) WELLINGTON, September 26. No firm proposals had been made to William Cable, Ltd., the national secretary of the Engineers’ Union (Mr J. A. Neale) said tonight. Mr Neale’s union is not affiliated to the Federation of Labour, but he has been asked to act as an intermediary. His main suggestion had been for a meeting between management and union representatives in order to settle the deadlock. Other proposals were “too delicate” to disclose, he said, but he indicated he was hopeful of a compromise. Subsequently the employers were reported to have been in touch with Mr Neale, but there was no indication of what they had decided.

After a three-hour meeting tonight of a group of em ployers, including the prin cipal parties in the dispute the secretary of the Em ployers' Federation (Mr P. J Luxford) would make n< comment. After the main meeting broke up, it is understooi the Cable representative considered the matter pri vately. Mr Neale held a meetin; of his own union during th evening. Another meeting was als held in the Wellington Trade Hall tonight where the presi dent of the Federation of La bour (Mr F. P. Walsh) pre sided over a meeting of th Wellington Trades Counci which also discussed the dis pute.

ig Before the meeting, Mr n . Walsh said that the men could hold out for “12 months n " if necessary.” The only semblance of a n- development during the day j was talk among trade union--10 ists of a “Wanganella agreement” which, they allege, was lg made during a dispute over working the Wanganella in es 1947. •j. The unionists say that William Cable, Ltd., then agreed lg to pass on all Court wage ie orders. When this was put to Mr so Luxford, he said that he es understood that this was completely wrong. a- Later the company spokese- man said he had made a carene ful check of all records and ill could find no evidence of such is- an agreement, either written or verbal.