GAS STRIKE ENDED.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1866, 10 March 1913, Page 5

GAS STRIKE ENDED.

BY MUTUAL CONSENT.

TERMS KEPT SECRET

Prees Assn—By Telegraph—Copyright Sydney, Yesterday. The gas strike lias ende -. After the conference arranged by Hon. Mr Carmichael (Minister for Labour) between the strikers and the companies, the Premier (Hon. James McGowen) who presided, announced that an agreement had been reached by mutual consent, and the men would go back to work on Saturday afternoon. Mr McGowen declined to disclose the terms, but from other sources it was gathered that a meeting of strikers will be held this morning to ratify the provisional agreement, which there is reason to believe will prove acceptible to them. At a meeting of gas workers last night satifaction was expressed at the favourable turn of events. The secretary of the Gasmen's Union stated that the only thing he could disclose about the conference was that the agreement provided that every man went back to his old place.

WHAT THE TERMS PROVIDE. NEW LAW NEXT WEEK. RETROSPECTIVE ACTION. Sydney, March 8. A gasmen's meeting accepted the agreement. It provides that the men shall resume work forthwith. The Government will summon a special session of Parliament within twelve days with a view of amending the Arbitration Act to allow the dispute to be dealt with by the Board. The companies agree to give retrospective effect to the date of the resumption of work to any excess of rate contained in the Board's award, any increase in the gas rate to operate for a sufficient period back to enable the companies to recover the amount expended under the provision for retrospective effect.

All the strikers will be restored to their former positions, and there is to be no victimisation of the men by the companies nor by the men or unions against the men employed by the companies. Tne gasmen's secretary states that if they had not had the hospital's and the comfort of the public in mind they would have been firmer in their demands.