TIMBER STRIKE

Grey River Argus, 10 March 1933, Page 5

TIMBER STRIKE

ON WEST COAST STARTS TO-DAY Against Wage Cuts To-day will see the wages dispute in the West Coast timber industry enter 1 a new phase, when, for perhaps the first time in the history of the Westland Timber Workers’ Union, strike action of a general character will begin. Last evening an enthusiastic meeting of the Unionists at Te Kiuga was held, at which the President (Mr B Topp), and the Secretary (Mr F. L. Turley) were present. It was pointed out by the various speakers that the every effort which the* Union could make- to secure an agreed settlement of the wages issue had been exhausted, and that the employers had failed to m' et them the spirit which was required for a mutual agreement. The meeting strongly supported the proposal to take such further action as was deemed essential to bring about an early settlement o f the dispute. I pon the completion of work to-day the workers at the Te Kinga mill, numbering between forty ami fifty, will cease operations. This mill belongs to the United Sawmills, Ltd. Early next week operations at a number of other sawmills will cease unless, in the meantime, a settlement of the wages question is arrive! at between the parties. The Timber Workers’ Inion has all along bc*en prepared to ente ; - into negotiations with the employers in order to secure an agreement, but the. Executive have had definite instructions from the Union members that any discussion of terms shall proceed on the basis of a minimum rate of 12s Sd per day. In this connection it should b e explained that in the “Argus” report of the 7th inst there was a slight inaccuracy in the reference to a suggestion for a 12s per day minimum. What actually oecurerd at the conference between tho Union and employers’ representatives the previous day was that tho Union spokesmen suggested that if tho employers’ representatives would agree to submit the suggestion for 12 s per day to their organisation, the Union representatives would submit the same suggestion to their organisation. The employers’ delegates, however, did not agree to this, stating they- would instead agree to suggest to their organisation a minimum of Ils 6d per day. There are yet hopes that tho dispute may not prove to be one of very long duration, in view of the efforts which certain employers are making to secure a mutual agreement, and which may presently have the desired effect.