FIREMEN’S DISPUTE: REPLY TO MINISTER

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22818, 13 December 1948, Page 4

FIREMEN’S DISPUTE: REPLY TO MINISTER

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, Dec. 13. Exception to a statement by the Minister of Labour, Mr, A. McLagan, that the attitude of the United Fire Brigades' Association in refusing to attend a conference over the volunteer firemen's dispute was difficult to understand was taken by Captain T. J. Watts secretary of the association. “Our association submitted a series of questions to the Secretary of Labour Mr. Bockett, about the proposed committee and in view of the replies received from him we are not in favour of a committee being appointed to determine who would come within the definition of volunteer firemen,” said Captain Watts. “To our question as to whether the committee’s decision would bo written into the award, the Secretary of Labour replied that a form of gentlemen's agreement would be given to the effect that the decision would be incorporated in disputes at present before the Conciliation Council. We are not prepared to accept a gentlemen’s agreement.” Captain Watts added that a further conference of the parties to set up a committee had been suggested by the Secretary of Labour, but in view of the failure o'f similar conferences the association could not see any reason for the conference and would not agree to attending.