Tribunal To Consider Trifling Difference

Northern Advocate, 5 June 1948, Page 6

Tribunal To Consider Trifling Difference

Dunedin Trams

WELLINGTON, Sat. (P.A.).—The tramways in Dunedin are expected to resume normal services today following a meeting of the meeting at 10 o’clock in the morning and the appointment of a tribunal by the Minister of Labour (Mr McLagan). The Minister said last night that he had made an offer to both the City Council and the Tramway Employees’ Union to set up a tribunal to adjudicate on the matter immediately in dispute, but this offer had not been accepted by the council. The executive of the union had recommended the men to accept a tribunal.

The immediate point at issue between the tramway workers and the council was the question as to who should have the custody of a small sum of money at stake, approximately £SO, until such time as a decision was given by the national tribunal which had been set up to determine the larger dispute regarding rates of pay and which would be sitting in Wellington on Wednesday. MINISTER’S ACTION The council desired that such money should be placed in the suspense account of the council, whereas the workers desired that the money should be paid over to the Department of Labour and held until the decision of the tribunal was available. “It is ridiculous,” said the Minister, “that the public of Dunedin should be without transport facilities because of a trifling difference of this nature. “In view of the council’s refusal to accept my earlier offer of a tribunal, I feel that the only sensible course to take is to appoint a tribunal in accordance with the powers conferred upon me as Minister of Labour in terms of the Strike and Lock-out Emergency Regulations and to require the attendance of representatives of both employers and workers. TEMPORARY CUSTODY “The tribunal will deal merely with the question of the temporary custody of the money at stake.” The members of the tribunal are Mr E. J. -Anderson, chairman of the Transport Committee of the Dunedin City Council, and Mr P. A. Hansen, national secretary of the Tramway Employees’ Union, with Mr W. Cadwallader, superintendent of the Department of Labour and Employment, Dunedin, as chairman.