Timber Workers On Strike

Northern Advocate, 21 August 1945, Page 4

Timber Workers On Strike

(P.A.) GREYMOUTH, This Day. Timber workers throughout Westland, including those in Inangahua and Buller, were idle yesterday, having ceased operations on Saturday afternoon at the direction of the executive of the Westland Timber Workers’ Union, which requested the men to remain out until the Arbitration Court announced the new award, particularly in connection with wettime work.

In an endeavour to effect a settlement of the dispute, the acting-Mirf-ister for Labour (Hon. J. O’Brien) arrived from Wellington on Saturday, and in, a letter to the secretary of the union (Mr F. L. Turley) he appealed to the men to refrain from striking until the Arbitration Court had made its award, fie pointed out the hardship that would be caused to the people of the Dominion and members of the union by striking and remaining on strike. Mr O’Brien promised that, if no provision was made in the award for the wet weather experienced' on, the W T est Coast, he would have negotiations opened with the employers with a view to coming to an agreement on the question of wet-time. If a satisfactory agreement could be made, if could be added to the award, A meeting, at which Mr O'Brien met the representatives of the strikers and employers, was held at Greymouth yesterday morning, but no finality was reached 1 . However, Mr O’Brien stated this afternoon that, although he could give no guarantee, he expected a settlement of the dispute within a day or two.