DISPUTE AT BENMORE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30045, 1 February 1963, Page 3

DISPUTE AT BENMORE

Some Matters Settled

Although some of the matters in dispute at Benmore ' had been satisfactorily settled ; and inquiries on the job concluded, a solution bad still to be found for the major ‘ problems, said the South , Island secretary of the New Zealand Workers’ Union (Mr W. A. Dempster) yesterday. Solutions had still to be found for the problems involved in job safety, excessive high noise level and the introduction by the Minis- : try of Works of alternative > work methods to those now practised, which the union contended had brought about , dangerous and unsafe overloading and excessive speeding by heavy plant equip- ! meet and vehicles, Mr Demp- ’ ster said.

In line with the undertaking given in Wellington, the union had resumed normal relations on the job with the Ministry of Works through the Benmore project engineer (Mr A. V. Taylor). The union had reaffirmed its vote of no-confidence in the construction superintendent (Mr W. A. Shellock), Mr Dempster said. A written report of the negotiations between Ministry of Works officials and union representatives at Otemataita during the test three days was now being prepared by the representatives of both parties. The report would be read to a normal stop-work meeting of the union on February 11. In the meantime, negotiation proceedings had been resumed to allow time for both parties to agree on the authority to continue and complete matters still in dispute.

Extension.—The AustralianItalian immigration agreement will be extended for 12 months from February 1, the Immigration Minister (Mr Alex Downer) announced tonight—Canberra, January 30.