DRIVER’S DISPUTE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1938, Page 7

DRIVER’S DISPUTE

; ALLEGATIONS BY EMPLOYEES. (Per: Press Association —Copyright). !•, WELLINGTON, Marh 9. “Tp-morrow is the last day of the hearing, and unless you are prepared to discuss matters on the basis of the old award, the employers will not be able to discuss them at all,” said Mr D. I. Macdonald, the employers’ agent in the Conciliation Council hearing of the New Zealand Federated Drivers’ and Related Trades Industrial Association of Workers’ dispute to-day. The close of tc-day’s discussions marked the ; end of the second day of the hearing, and, apart from agreement on one or two minor clauses, no progress has been made in the settlement of the dispute. Mr S. Ritchie, Conciliation Cimmissioner, presided.. , : Clause 17 of the employees’ proposals asked that “the secretary or other representative of l the union shall be permitted to interview workers in working hours, but so as not to interfere unreasonably with the operations of the employer concerned.” The employers’ counter-claims included provision, “with the consent of the 'employer (which consent shall not unreasonably -he withheld),” in this connexion. ' ; ; Mr Macdonald said that the employers’, proviso was necessary.' He had received a- report that Mr L. G. Mat- • thews, .an employees’ assessor and secretary of a union, at Auckland, had gone into on'employers’- premises with-, out asking permission, and at times his ;visits had been .inconvenient. Mr Matthews asked that this implication should be substantiated, and stated that he Had an undisputed right of entry without referring to employers. I .Mr Macdonald: The employers do not give the same'impression. Mr'M.. G; Csbom ('emnloyees’ assessor): The only individuals who are complaining are those, who are breaking down the award. .Reheated demands wore made for the enmlovers;. to substantiate the. statementV.but .no reply was made hv the employers’ v,assessors, who considered that-Mr ; Matthews had admitted the charge during his argument in support of the new clause. , • ASSESSOR LEAVES MEETING^ ‘f Unless there, is an explanation, I shall not . remain in this council, any longer,” said Mr Matthews. He was called back by the Conciliation Commissioner," hut. after a fbw moments, left the meeting. , . . Mr, Oshorri: .Now he has' gone, let the Aucklanders substantiate the implication; Will they be men enough to get up and do it?-Why does Mr Macdonald not allow them to speak? Why is he gagging them? " ' " . -ilr. Macdonald said that the employees. had been-exaggerating the importance .of he did not think it necessary for the employera to explain the statement. ■ ‘All we want ’ you to do is l to get someone to justify the statement, 4 ’ said Mr F. C. Allerby, employees’ agent. \ 'J’wo of the employers’ assessors from Auckland finally said that they had had inconvenient visits from Mr Matthews, ,and that on no occasion had he askgd for: permission to talk to themen. “One- of my assessors has left the tajilei” said Mr Allerby, “and I want him back. We are here to negotiate At the Vast. Conciliation Council you were prepared to concede clauses, but if this time you are going >to take the exeeption to be the rule, where are we going to got?” Mr Macdonald: We have a definitely hostile attitude created by Mr Matthews. Mr Allerby: You are not helping in the issue. Mr Macdonald: I take nothing back of, what I have said, but the sooner we start discussing the proposals and not general principles the sooner will we accomplish something, WELLINGTON, March 10. After a three-day session in Conciliation Council, the employers and workers in the New Zealand drivers’ and related trades’ dispute reached no agreement on the major questions of hours, wages, and holidays. Today the council sat all day, but agreement was reached on only minor matters, all contentious questions being referred to the Court of Arbitration. ; The Conciliation Commissioner (Mr S. Ritchie) suggested that between now and the date fixed for the hearing of the case, both parties should cooperate in considering the unsettled points further, after having reported the l conciliation proceedings to their respective organisations..