THE DRIVERS' DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 73, 20 December 1918, Page 6

THE DRIVERS' DISPUTE

STILL UNSETTLED. The drivers' dispute remains unset I led, and a further conference with the employers has been requested. The various awards , governing the wages and working conditions of drivers throughout New Zealand expired on November 27 lust. Some time previous to that date a conference was held in Wellington between the parties, when the claims submitted by the Drivers' Federation were discussed. No agreement was arrived at, but an offer was made by the employers for an increase in wages, thu existing working conditions to remain unaltered. This oft'or was placed before the unions affiliated to the New Zealand Drivers' Federation, and was rejected, it is ofiicijiUy stated, by an overwhelming majority. Tho Drivers' Federation has since referred the matter to the New Zealand Transport Workers' Advisory Boan-d, which, after consideration, has decided to support the drivers in their claims for a reduction of hours a weekly half-holi-day, ami an increase in wages and overtime rates. The board, after going very fully into the case, was unanimously of the opinion' that the demands of the Drivers' Federation were ''fair and reasonable," and did not present any insurmountable difficulty to an agreement being arrived at. The board is also of opinion that every viffort should be made to, settle the dispute by conciliatory methods, and has advised" that a'fiirther conference >bo arranged with the object of ;.rrivingnt, if possible, an amicable settlement. To this end a lotter has been forwarded to the secretary of the Employers' Federation (Mr. W. Pryor),