MINISTER TAKES TOUGH LINE ON BUS STRIKE

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34031, 20 December 1975, Page 1

MINISTER TAKES TOUGH LINE ON BUS STRIKE

The Minister of Labour (Mr Gordon) hinted yesterday at stern measures against the Tramways Union—possibly deregistration—if an order by the compulsory arbitrator for \\ ellington bus drivers to resume work were not followed next week.

“If there is a failure in this direction, then I will be in no doubt as to what further action I should take,” Mr Gordon said in Wellington.

He would meet unior representatives in Wei lington on Monday anti seek a “responsible attitude” from all parties, “while making it cleai that, should they not bt forthcoming, furthei action by me cannot be avoided. “As Minister of Labour, ] cannot, and will not, stand by while the proper procedures for settling a dispute ol this nature are ignored by either party.” Christchurch bus drivers will return to work this morning after their 24-hour stoppage. The union’s Christchurch secretary (Mr K. A. Challender) said that further stoppages would depend on the results of talks with employers. If the employers did not withdraw their demand for a right to employ part-time drivers, Mr Challender said, “I am afraid there will be further stoppages in Christchurch, and the next one would be of indefinite length.” Traffic flowed On the normally-busy Friday before Christmas, traffic congestion in the city centre was not as heavy as expected, according to the Ministry of Transport’s traffic superintendent (Mr A. Goldsmith).

: “Traffic flows seemed to be (quite good,” he said. “There (was no serious congestion all day, and no dramatic increase in accidents at all.” Traffic was heavy, however, and many car-parks were taxed to the limit early in the day. Several large department stores reported that business was very good, although there might have been fewer shoppers than expected. Taxi fares up Taxi companies were extremely busy throughout the day, with half-hour delays during peak periods. Many people going to and from work had taxies booked well in advance. And taxi fares rose at least five cents a ride virtually everywhere yesterday as a result of a decision by the Secretary for Transport (Mr R. J. Polaschek).

Country running rates have been increased 2c to 24c a half-mile. New charges set for funerals and weddings and the extra charge for night hires, Saturdays, Sundays, and statutory holidays was raised to 20c. Traffic officers in Christchurch said there was no unusual congestion during the

Friday evening rush hour. It had been as quiet as normal on a Frida • shopping night. In Auckland, all regional authority services might be off the road until after the Christmas break although at present Tramways Union objects are to let buses resume services on Christmas Day in the other five cities —Wellington, Christchurch, New Plymouth, Invercargill, and Dunedin, the Press Association reports. The Auckland Regional

Authority has decided not to lock drivers out today and tomorrow, and says it hopes they will respond by returning to work. The bus strike in Wellington looks set to run its course until the morning of Christmas Day. Tramways Union officials say the com-oulsory-conference directive to start work and negotiate has solved nothing in the dispute. The union’s secretary (Mr G. Turner) said yesterday that the executive might call a meeting on Monday to tell members of developments since they stopped work last Wednesday morning.