GOLD DREDGE DISPUTE

Evening Star, Issue 23745, 28 November 1940, Page 16

GOLD DREDGE DISPUTE

A COMPLETE DEADLOCK SPREAD OF TROUBLE POSSIBLE [Pun United Press Association.] GREYMOUTH, November 27. There appears to be a complete deadlock in the dispute at the Ngahere gold dredge, where 30 employees were given notice of dismissal on Monday following their failure to work on the King’s Birthday, which was regarded by the men as a statutory holiday. Today a conference held between the representatives of the company and the Westland Gold Dredge Workers’ Union proved abortive; but, although another offer to resume work provided they suffered no loss of wages was maclo by the union on behalf of the men, the company has refused to resume operations. The Minister 1 of Labour, Mr Webb, to-day sent the following telegram to the union;—“l would strongly advise the men to resume work forthwith, and I would immediately set up a tribunal to make a thorough investigation into all the matters in dispute. I would be glad to learn that the men will resume work to-morrow.” Late to-night there were no further developments to suggest that the company was prepared to re-engage the meii. The union has indicated its willingnes to accept the decision of a tribunal, which cannot be set up till work is resumed. A meting of the union will be held on Sunday, when, unless work at Ngahere is resumed, the spread of the dispute to all the other large dredges which are parties with the Ngahere Company to the holiday agreement is considered possible.