GOVERNMENT ACTION OVER WANGANELLA ASKED BY EMPLOYERS

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1947, Page 5

GOVERNMENT ACTION OVER WANGANELLA ASKED BY EMPLOYERS

WELLINGTON, May 21.

Declaring that the Government had a responsibility to administer the law and that the situation regarding the Wanganella and the repair contractors, William Cable and Company Ltd., demanded action by the State, the secretary of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, Mr C. G. Camp, said to-day that the employers were not prepared to sit on the special claims tribunal until the tradesmen return to work in sufficient numbers. This decision was expressed to the Government last evening when there was an invitation to attend the tribunal this morning, Mr Camp continued. This decision had been expressed on numerous occasions and it was completely in accordance with the Government’s own regulations for conducting such a tribunal and the Government’s instructions in the present issue. Consequently it was impossible for the tribunal to resume to-day.

A report that arrangements were being made for resumption tomorrow was misleading, Mr Camp said, and the employers’ attitude was unchanged. Mr Camp said that another report that “a union representative” claimed that enough workers had returned to the company to complete the work on the Wanganella was completely without foundation. It was clear from the attitude of members of the Boilermakers’ Union, in striking contrast with the valued response from other unionists, that there was an attack from this quarter upon Cable and Company, and the situation was regarded very seriously.