PETROL DRIVERS

Evening Star, Issue 22686, 28 June 1937, Page 16

PETROL DRIVERS

DECISION TO RESUME WORK 601) RT TO DECIDE ISSUE SATURDAY NEXT [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, June 27. A decision to return to work to-morrow was made by the 40 drivers of petrol wagons who ceased work on Friday as the result of adispute over the application of the 40-hour week. Protracted discussions occupied nearly the full day yesterday, and, although ftirther meetings of the executive of the Auckland Drivers’ Union took place to-day, no official statement was made. It was learned, however, that the employees would return to work on much the original terms, pending consideration of the claims for an interpretation of the award by the Arbitration Court next Saturday. With the Conciliation Commissioner (Mr R. E. Price) presiding, representatives of the men and the employers met yesterday. As the afternoon waned without a decision being announced, it was thought, that the intervention of the Acting Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) might be sought, but shortly after his arrival at 4.30 p.m. in the Union Airways aeroplane Kotare the meeting dispersed, and the representatives of the employees did not meet Mr Fraser. Although pickets were posted at the depots until yesterday afternoon, the men exercised every restraint, and the employers had no reason to suspect trouble. Several petrol and fuel wagons were allowed into the yards j’esterday, but there was no staff present to undertake the handling or filling. Over the week-end the rush _ for petrol continued in the service stations. Supplies appeared to hold out longer than was expected, but this evening there were a number of empty pumps, and in a very large number of other stations only a few gallons of motor spirit were left. Rationing was applied in. many instances. Bakeries faced the week-end with concern, and in one case a staff of mechanics was set to work on Saturday to convert the oil fuel furnaces to burn carbonettes. This involved the fitting of fire bars and an alteration of the combustion rate, and it was expected that some difficulty would be experienced in obtaining adequate coal firing in the limited combustion space.