WORKERS’ UNION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 220, 17 August 1939, Page 3

WORKERS’ UNION.

AGREEMENT WITH DEPARTMENT Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 16. No blame whatever was attached to officials of 'the New Zealand Workers Union for the.delay in completing the proposed new agreement between the union and the Public Works Department stated the Minister of Public Work’s (Hon. R. Semple), in an interview to-day. He added that, union officials had conferred some time ago with officers of the department and had completed their negotiations. The proposed agreement had then been passed on to him, and since it involved public expenditure he had sent it on to Cabinet for consideration The delay in reaching finality had been duo to tho fact that Cabinet was short-handed through Ministers being ill or absent from New Zealand. -I he union officials had done their part and the decision now rested with the Government, over which the officials had no control. Mr Semple said lie was making the statement because there had been numerous inquiries from members ot tho union ns to the reason for the delay. He hoped that finality would bo reached within a few days.