NGAHERE DREDGE

Grey River Argus, 5 December 1940, Page 8

NGAHERE DREDGE

LOCKOUT ENDS Tribunal Being Set Up MEN RESUMING TO-DAY. The Ngahere Dredge, which has been idle since November 25. when the Ngahere Gold Dredging Co. Ltd., issued notices of dismissal against 30 men, who did not work on the King’s Birthday, will resume to-day. This, decision follows yesterday’s meeting of the National Council of the Federation of Labour at Wellington, when Mr D. Faris (Secretary of the Westland Gold Dredge Workers’ Union) attended and presented the case for the men. The President of the Federation of Labour (Mr AMcLagan) later communicated by telephone with the Support Committee set up last Saturday by the West Coast Trades and Labour Council and the Union, and stated that the Feder ation, after full consideration of the facts, had expressed the opinion that the men’s action was justified, and that the Federation had given its fullest support to them. /The Federation, he said, had decided immediately to get into contact with the Minister of Labour (Hon. P. C. Webb) who was in Wellington. Following the Conference with the Minister, it was agreed that a tribunal be set up immediately, and Mr Webb indicated that Mr J. A. Gilmour, S.M., the Industrial Magistrate, could be in Greymouth on Saturday next to preside over the sitting. Mr McLagan was later selected by the Federation of Labour to sit on the tribunal as representative of the men, and a representative of the employers is to be The Minister also indicated that formal notice of the setting up of the tribunal would be gazetted last evening. RE-ENGAGEMENT TERMS. When the notices of dismissal were handed to the men last week, they I were informed that their re-engage-ment would be conditional on a satisfactory settlement of the question of statutory holidays. These terms, it is understood, will be withdrawn by the Company, so that resumption today will not be barred by the Company, on any question as to holidays.

It was stated on behalf of the men last evening, that work was being resumed to-day, because of the assurance given yesterday by the Federation of Labour that they had acted correctly and the further assurance of the Federation’s support.. Twelve hours’ notice of their,_ re-engagement has to be given each man by the Company, so that full operations should be resumed either to-day or to-night, depending on whether the Company notifiesithe men within the time limit set.