TRAM DISPUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25022, 12 October 1944, Page 7

TRAM DISPUTE

ACTION BY MINISTER CRITICISM AND DEFENCE (S.R.) WELLINGTON, Wedn«sd:iy The action of the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, in taking steps to set up a disputes committee to settle differences between the Auckland Transport Board and the Auckland Tramways Union without consulting the board, was criticised by Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition —Tauranga), during consideration of the estimates of the Labour Department in the House of Representatives today Mr Doidge said that the Minister's action was bewildering to the people of Auckland. Judging by reports it was no exaggeration to say that it had caused consternation. The .Minister had invoked the Strike and Lockout Emergency Regulations when there was no dispute and the Transport Board had been peremptorily ordered to appoint representatives to the Disputes Committee. However, the board had no knowledge of a dispute. It was quite clear that the Minister had not consulted the board in any way, Mr Doidge continued. The case was one which could be settled by the ordinary methods, but for some astounding reason the Minister stepped in and ordered a tribunal to be set up under the emergency, regulations. Intervention Supported Mr F. Hackett. (Government —Grey Lvnn), said it was a great pity that Mr Doidge had not known a little more about the matter, for in that case he would not have spoken as he had. An argument between the board and the | union had been in progress for months, j the argument being who was to bo chairman of the tribunal to be set up. The board wanted the senior magistrate at Auckland, Mr J. H. Luxford, and the union considered the proper man was the Conciliation Commissioner. Tlie question had arisen as to the interpretation of two clauses in the agreement and surely the men were entitled to have an interpretation. The position had reached a stalemate and something had to be done. The matter was not one that should be raised in the House at this stage. Explanation by Mr Webb Mr P. Carr (Government —Auckland West), said the Minister had done the right and proper thing. Mr Webb said the position was very critical when the matter was brought to his notice. The employers and tho workers had met on a number of occasions and could not agree 011 a chairman. The workers had assured him that there was danger of trouble arising in regard to the. working of the reguI lations. which some people called goslow. If the men worked precisely to the regulations it would interfere with the economy of the tramway service. Mr Doidge: Why did you not consult the board—you did consult the union? The Minister said the board had been consulted and could not agree. The union wanted Mr C. L. Hunter, Conciliation Commissioner, and the board wanted Mr Luxford, but he felt that the proper man was the industrial magistrate, Mr J. A. Gilmour. BOARD AND THE UNION A STATEMENT REITERATED The statement that 110 representations 011 the question of holidays had been made by the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Tramways Union was reiterated by the chairman of the Auckland Transport Board, Mr W. H. Nagle, yesterday, when commenting on a statement by the union secretary, Mr E. A. Whitlow. "We do not deny that the matter was taken up by the National Tramways Union with the Public Passenger Transport Association in Wellington," said Mr Nagle, "but the Auckland union has never communicated its grievance to my board either orally or by letter." When the question of holidays was brought to its notice in July, Mr Nagle continued, the executive of the Public Passenger Transport Association passed the following resolution: "That the tramway union be advised that owing to the varying working conditions and lack of uniformity in granting annual holidays the association 1 recommends that each branch of the union take up the matter with the respective tramway undertakings and that each undertaking deal with its own problem." As the Auckland union had not acted in accordance with this resolution, concluded Mr Nagle, he failed to see how there could be any dispute with the Transport Board.