FERTILISER STRIKE

Evening Star, Issue 23325, 22 July 1939, Page 13

FERTILISER STRIKE

FIRST MEETING UNGER DISPUTES ACT [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, July 21. Following the cancellation of the Otahuhu chemical workers’ union -under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act under legislation put through Parliament this week, the employers and workers’ interests held a conference this afternoon under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act. It was convened under the procedure outlined in the Act by the conciliation commissioner, Mr R. E. Price, and after discussion no agreement was reached on the matters in the dispute which caused the strike which is still continuing at the chemical manure works at Otahuhu, Westfield, and Te Papapa. The conference agreed, however, to set up a Labour Disputes Committee under the provisions of the Act, Air Price subsequently announcing that under the legislation the Minister of Labour (Air AVebb) would appoint a chairman. On the appointment of a chairman tho parties are prepared that the committee should meet to-morrow or on Sunday in order to deal witli this dispute. It is felt that no time should lie lost in endeavouring to reconcile the differences that exist. 1,000 IDLE WAGONS RAILWAYS DESIRES RELEASE '

The release of a large number of railway wagons at present loaded with rock phosphate, the discharge of which has been delayed because of the strike at the fertiliser works at Otahuhu, To Papapa, and Westfield, is being sought by the Railways Department. Loaded wagons are to be seen on every siding between Auckland and Westfield. Between 5,000 and 6,000 tons of rock phosphate contained in 1,000 wagons is lying idle. , The general manager or the department (Mr G. H. Mackley) is reported to have approached the companies and other interested parties, pointing out that the wagons have already been lying idle for some time and suggesting that thev should be released, The unloading of wagons is presenting a problem. Free labour, it is stated would have to be used to unload them, and if this step were taken it might result in reporcusisons m other industries. Although tho timber and coal traffic at this time of the year is heavy, other, traffic on tho railways during tho winter is light, and consequently the idleness of the rolling stock loaded with phosphate is not creating as serious a problem as it might at another time of the year. Tho department however, desires to have this rolling stock available. The shipping at the port has increased in the past week, and although this is regarded merely as a temporary fluctuation, it has increased the demand on tho rolling stock. . Rock phosphate not having an acid content, it is stated, will not affect the metal in the wagons during the period of idleness.