RETURN TO WORK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 229, 27 August 1937, Page 2

RETURN TO WORK.

AGREEMENT AT ORAKEI. AUCKLAND, Aug. 26. Tn connection with the decision of the men on the Orakei housing scheme to return to work, it has been arranged by the men and the employers to call a conference of assessors within a week after the Arbitration Court s pronouncement on standard wages with a view to effecting a permanent settlement. The men are stated to have been given to understad that any increase will be operative from the time of the Court’s decision. The agreement to return to work was made at a meeting of the men in the Trades Hall. There was a number of speakers, including Mr W. J. Lyon, M.P., Mr J. McLaglen, president of the Federation of Labour, and Mr F. Cornwall, secretary of the federation. The general conference was followed by a meeting of delegates in the afternoon, when a statement was issued by Mr J. G. Kenncrley, secretary of the Carpenters and Joiners’ Union, on behalf of the men at Orakei. Air Kennerley said that after full discussion and consideration of matters in dispute on the Orakei job and general conditions of the carpenters’ award, a fully attended and representative meeting of the men-decided to resume on Monday. An important feature in making a settlement possible was an assurance that arrangements would Ire made to hold an early conference between union representatives and the Builders’ Association to discuss wages and other conditions after the pronouncement of the Arbitration Court on the basic wage for skilled workers. “Any agreement reached at this conference on the matter of wages will be given immediate effect to, and will give an increase of wages to all carpenters throughout the Dominion.” Mr Kennerley continued. As the Orakei men feel'this will achieve their objective as it concerned their own particular job, they agreed to resume work. It has been given to us to understand that payment of any increase following the Court’s pronouncement would be made from the date of the announcement.”

Beyond expressing gratification at a settlement having been reached, Mr William Fletcher, a director of the Fletcher Construction Company, Ltd., declined to comment on the terms that had been arranged when interviewed to-night.