PUBLIC INQUIRY ORDERED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21924, 19 January 1946, Page 5

PUBLIC INQUIRY ORDERED

PREMIER ACTS IN SCHREIBER DISPUTE

THREATENED BAM ON HOTELS LIFTED

(11 a.m.) CANBERRA, Jan. 19. The threatened ban on hotels in Canberra by the Trades and Labour Council following- the dismissal of Brigadier Derek Schreiber’s former valet, has been withdrawn. The Prime Minister, Mr. J. B. Chifley, and Minister of External Affairs, Dr. H. V. Evatt, have appointed Mr. George Findlay, chairman of the Industrial Board, to hold a public inquiry and determine the facts.

Mr. Findlay is to commence the hearing immediately. It is understood that the ban on the Schreibers and their household remains, but the unions will not enforce it pending the inquiry. Schreiber’s Denial Following an interview, Brigadier Schreiber issued a one-sentence statement denying that he had, directly or indirectly, approached the manager of the Kingston Hotel or Toohey’s Brewery regarding the dismissal of his ex-valet, Mr. E. C. Field or Mrs. Field. The union leaders and others concerned in the dispute are optimistic that tlio Fields will be reinstated at an early date and the dispute will be settled amicably. Unless the formula suggested by Mr. Chifley proves acceptable, every hotel that comes under the ban will be left without labour on Saturday afternoon. Replying to Brigadier Schreiber’s denial, the Trades and Labour Council states that Mr. Field was told by the Kingston Hotel licensee that lie could have his job back after Brigadier Schreiber left for England in April. The liquor trades representative was told by the licensee that Mr. Field's dismissal was because Brigadier Schreiber had brought pressure to bear on the brewery. The council is prepared to produce both Mr. Field and the licensee on oath.

Union Men Withdrawn Two men working at Brigadier Schreiber's property in Flinders Way have been withdrawn by the unions, and other unionists have refused to work on the car used by the household. A special meeting decided to declare black three hotels supported by Toohey’s Brewery, which, the council alleges, was influenced by Brigadier Schreiber to instruct against the employment of his ex-valet, Mr. E. C. Field. The ban will not operate if Mr. Field is reinstated in his hotel job by noon on Saturday. If the ban operates only one hotel in Canberra will be open to unionists when zero hour comes. “We will call every unionist out from evei’y Toohey’s hotel in Canberra,” says a joint statement by the president and secretary of the council. “We will instruct unionists to refuse to give Brigadier Schreiber or his household any service. We want to make it clear .that our fight at Government House is directed at the Schreibers only.” At an emergency meeting of the Canberra Labour Council last night the council moved that if the Canberra ban does not succeed in securing Mr. Field’s reinstatement, the New South Wales Labour Council be asked to support a State-wide ban on all hotels controlled by Toohey’s Brewery.