DEREGISTERED

Grey River Argus, 11 January 1944, Page 3

DEREGISTERED

AUCKLAND DRIVERS Result of Busmen’s Action P.A. WELLINGTON, Jan. 10. A decision to de-regi,ster the Auckland Drivers’ Union was made by Cabinet, at a meeting this afternoon. The decision follows on the action, of the Auckland bus drivers not operating the normal services yesterday. The necessary] order for de-regis-teration has been signed by Hon. P. C. Webb to-night. The effect of the cancellation is to automatically cancel the relevant Arbitration Court award in respect to the locality within a 25 miles radius of the Auckland Chief Post Office. ‘Tn accordance with my warning as to what would happen if the drivers carried out their threat and broke the law. the Government has no alternative but-to de-register the Union,” said the Minister in an interview to-night. “This deprives the Uhdn of all of its powers of compulsion and of preference to Unionists. Every possible effort was made to bring about conciliation, but without effect.” Union Secretary’s Comment MATTER NOT ONE FOR GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION, P.A. AUCKLAND, Jan. 10. Mr. L. G. Matthews, secretary of the Auckland Drivers’ Union, this afternoon, before the Cabinet's decision de-registering the Union was known, jnade reference to the busmen’s dispute. He said: “We are prepared to open negotiations with proprietors, but we do not consider that it is a matter for the Government.” The dispute should be confind to the two original parties, said Mr. Matthews. The bus proprietors had been successful in manoeuvring the Minister of Labour into a position where he accepted what was, in actual fact, the responsibility of the omnibus proprietors. *The President of the Auckland Omnibus Proprietors Association, Mr. N. B. S'pencer, said that a meeting of the bus proprietors would be held this week to discuss the new situation.