Claims By Tanker Drivers Supported

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31231, 1 December 1966, Page 3

Claims By Tanker Drivers Supported

<New Zealand Press Association >

AUCKLAND, November 30.

Tankers drivers at Mount Maunganui and Rotorua have indicated their support of wage and other claims put forward by the Northern Drivers’ Union.

The Auckland branch of the union has given the five major oil companies until December 15 to offer acceptable wage increases, allowances for handling dangerous cargoes, longer holidays and higher pay rates for shift work. The men also want a footwear allowance. If suitable offers are not made by this date, when con ciliation talks are due to resume, then the Auckland men will contemplate striking. The secretary of the branch, Mr G. H. Andersen, said he addressed the Mount Maunganui and Rotorua men at stop-work meetings during the last two days. The 30 men at Mount Maunganui and the dozen or so at Rotorua had agreed that if the Auckland men struck, they would not cart outside their delivery areas. The Auckland men gave the companies the ultimatum at a two-hour stop-work meeting on October 12.

The companies involved are Shell, 8.P., Caltex, Mobil and Europa.

Chief Inspector B. W. Gibson, of Police Headquarters, Wellington, has been appointed to the staff of the Australian Police College, Sydney, for six months and will lecture at the senior officers’ course. He will leave for Sydney in January.—(P.A.)