Minister Over-rides Council’s Objection

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26790, 5 June 1948, Page 6

Minister Over-rides Council’s Objection

Special to the Daily Times

WELLINGTON, June 4,

His decision to over-ride the objection of the Dunedin City Council and appoint a tribunal to deal with the immediate issue in the tramway dispute was announced by the Minister of Labour, Mr McLagan, in a statement to-night;

Mr McLagan said that this morning 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 City Council. The executive of the Tramways’ Union had recommended the men to accept the tribunal. The immediate point at issue between the tramway workers in Dunedin and the City Council was the question who should have custody of the 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. The City 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 by that department 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 City Council’s refusal to accept my earlier offer of a tribunal I feel that the only sensiblecourse to take is to appoint a tribunal in accordance with the powers conferred upon me as Minister of Labour in the terms of the Strike and Lockout Emergency Regulations, and to require the attendance of representatives of both the employers and the workers. The tribunal will deal merely with the

question of temporary custody of the money at stake. It is expected that the transport services in Dunedin wu! resume normal running shortly after a meeting of the men which is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. to-mor-row.” The members of the tribunal are: Cr E. J. Anderson, chairman of the Transport Committee of the Dunedin City Council: Mr P. A. Hansen, national secretary of the Tramways Emplovees’ Union: and Mr W. H. Cadwallader, superintendent of the Department of Labour and Employment in Dunedin ( chairman).