CARPENTERS’ DISPUTE HAS ASSUMED GREATER POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27025, 9 March 1949, Page 6

CARPENTERS’ DISPUTE HAS ASSUMED GREATER POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Industrial Correspondent *? WELLINGTON, Mar. 8. '■ As each day goes by the carpenters’ dispute at Auckland is involving more workers and more employers and is becoming politically more dangerous for the Government. With the pending dismissal of 800 drivers , and a possible hold up of all deliveries in Auckland now looming up, it is generally believdd here that the Government must make some early step towards resolving the deadlock.

National officials of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants to-day conferred with the National Executive of the Federation of Labour on v the dispute. The special interest of ’the ASRS arose from the application of dismissed carpenters at Auckland for employment in the railway workshops. It is understood that the Government has refused to agree to fill vacant jobs with dismissed carpenters, and the reaction of the unionists has been to declare that the Government is on the employers’ side in the dispute. There is the danger of several major groups of workers in the transport industry, the drivers, the; railwaymen and the watersiders becoming quickly involved if the dispute continues. Auckland unionists are planning to hold a mass meeting at Carlaw Park on Thursday of the unions at present involved. The employers, meanwhile, are not only standing firm in the dispute, but are taking the initiative at several points to force the issue. The political significance of these events at this stage of the election year is apparent enough, and, although the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, has suggested that this is the suitable time for a “ show-down ” on industrial relations, the Government can hardly consider it so. Its task will be to find some means of settlement as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the Federation of Labour is in touch with the Government on developments, and the situation is being" closely watched by the Transport Workers’ Federation.