DISPUTE POSTPONED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20678, 31 January 1942, Page 4

DISPUTE POSTPONED

DOMINION DRIVERS CRITICISM BY WORKERS (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. No agreement was reached in the Conciliation Council called to consider the Dominion drivers’ dispute and the council adjourned sine die. When the council resumed, Mr F. C. Allerby, on behalf of the workers, asked the employers’ assessors to reconsider their proposal that the discussion should be only on the basis of the old award or that the dispute should be adjourned till more normal times.

The employers’ assessors returned after a retirement and Mr W. E. Anderson, on their behalf, asked for an adjournment of the proceedings till international conditions were more normal and the employers had petrol and had their trucks back. Then there would be a chance of reaching a settlement.

“That is a negative attitude, not conciliation. It is only taking advantage of the present situation,” said Mr Allerby. The impressment of trucks had been a God-send to a lot of employers, because they had been carrying half loads and now the remaining trucks were running full. The employers were not in a weak position.

The workers’ assessors were deeply grieved at the attitude of the employers’ assessors and •at the cheap manner in which they had taken the proposals of “the men who earned the chips.” The workers were disgusted but were in a cleft stick and had no option but to accept the adjournment. In moving a motion of thanks to the commissioner, Mr S. Ritchie, Mr Allerby said he had presided over protracted, dull and bitter proceedings.