TIMBER WORKERS’ UNION

Grey River Argus, 18 May 1943, Page 3

TIMBER WORKERS’ UNION

The following were present at a meeting of the executive of the Westland Branch of the Timber Workers’ Union: Messrs B. Topp (president), T. O’Brien, (vice-president), C. Elley, J. Holmes, W. Lamberton, and. the secretary (Mr F. Turley). Included in the business was a full report submitted by the secretary on the deliberations of the Post-War Industry Forestry Committee. The report was adopted and a vote of thanks passed to the committee for its good work as outlined in the report. It was suggested that the committee be requested to endeavour to establish some method whereby small timber areas, not suitable or large enough for the construction of sawmills on those areas, could be logged and the logs sent to a suitable mill for cutting into sawn timber. It was pointed out that large quantities of timber, which otherwise would not be of any commercial value, would be available by this method. Remits for the annual conference to be held the following week were discussed and directions given on several matters to delegates. The following matters to be brought before a meeting of the Disputes Committee to be held at an early date were considered and discussed: (1) A general interpretation of regulations dealing with hours of work, overtime rates, etc.; (2) a general interpretation as to the duties of a night, watchman and as to what constitutes a night watchman; (3) a general interpretation of the special holiday clause.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE Messrs B. Topp and F. Turley represented the Union at the National Council meeting on April 14 and 15, and Messrs B. Topp, F. Turley and C. Elley, the annual conference held in Wellington on April 16 and 17. Full reports of both conferences will appear in all probability in the next issue of “The Timber Worker.” A matter of vital importance to West Coast timber workers discussed at the conference was the importation from America of 2,000,000 butter boxes in shocks, ’ amounting to 8,000,000 feet of timber. Strong comment was made on and exception taken to the importations. The conference considered that before this class of material was brought into the country from overseas, the supply of New' Zealand timbers should be properly organsied, the general opinion being that the Forestry Department had definitely fallen down on its job to allow- such a state of affairs to arise. A statement from the responsible authorities would be welcomed as to why the position was allowed to develop when it is considered that the imports could not possibly be landed at under thirtyfive shillings per hundred board measurement, totalling £140,000 New Zealand values. MANPOWER DISPUTES

The secretary of the Westland Branch states that a great number of disputes have arisen in the sawmills in connection with manpower, and that the only way the whole matter can be satisfactorily adjusted is to permit free movement of all timber workers within the industry in their respective Industrial Districts following the practice agreed in the local mining industry. He states there is no reason why the timber industry should be allowed to drift, and expresses the opinion that if such free movement is agreed to, it would not only prevent disputes, but would'help in the industry men who were getting out. If something is not done quickly to alter the position the West Coast timber output will steadily decline. It is brought to the notice of all workers in the 1 industry that employers have been notified that they must report to the authorities all cases of absenteeism on Saturdays, and that it is to the interest of the workmen that they always give- ' to their employers the reasons as to why they remained away from work; if this is done a good deal of trouble can be avoided. The Union should also be notified when work is not provided for some employees while the bush and mill .are working.