DEFIANT DRIVERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 4, 6 January 1944, Page 7

DEFIANT DRIVERS

AUCKLAND BUS DISPUTE

P.A: AUCKLAND. January 5. In spite of the threat of deregistration by the Minister of Labour (Mr. Webb) a general meeting of the Auckland Drivers' Union tonight decided to support the bus drivers' original resolution to carry only essential workers on Sundays till the proprietors agree to their demands for double time, a guaranteed minimum of eight hours' work and no change in the present rosters for days off. The secretary of the union, Mr. L. G. Matthews, said that the men intended to operate a restricted service between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. next Sunday. He advised general members of the public not to attempt to ride in workers' buses. The union agreed to support any action of the bus drivers' section to bring the dispute with the omnibus proprietors to a successful conclusion, said Mr. Matthews. The full union endorsed the proposals of the bus drivers for Sunday work, and though it knew it faced the risk of deregistration, the union was prepared to accept the consequences of its action.

"If the Minister gives effect to his threat, we intend to maintain our organisation even in the face of the War Emergency Regulations," said Mr. Matthews.