SPREAD TO HUNTLY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27092, 28 May 1949, Page 8

SPREAD TO HUNTLY

AUCKLAND CARPENTERS' DISPUTE ONE COAL MINE IDLE PA AUCKLAND, May 27. Repercussions to the registration, of the new Auckland Carpenters’ Union have included the virtual cessation, of carpentering work at two freezing works and meetings among the miners at Huntly as a result of which no work was done at one coal mine today, It is also reported that half a dozen carpenters left their work at a Huntly timber yard and joinery factory. The situation will be discussed at a protest meeting at the Trades Hall tomorrow morning. It is understood that this will be addressed by Mr R. Stanley, secretary of the New Zealand Carpenters and Joiners’ Union. Following a meeting on Thursday, 20 carpenters employed by the Westfield Freezing Company, Ltd., told the management that they were resigning. They were paid off and were not at work to-day. Carpenters employed at the Otahuhu works of R. and W. Hellaby, Ltd., were also absent to-day. Stop-work meetings were held at the Macdonald, Glen Afton, Rotowaro Renown, Pukemiro, and Alison coal mines in the Huntly district this morning. The carpenters’. dispute was discussed and a decision to take no action in the meantime was carried by a voting margin reported to be about three to two. The meeting at the Macdonald mine did not finish until 9.30 and the men returned to their homes. All other mines worked as usual after the meetings. “We now exist as the Auckland Carpenters’ Union within a 56-mile radius of Auckland,” said Mr R. J. Peter, president of the new union, after a meeting of the executive last night. Official word of the registration had been received from the Department of Labour, and the registration showed that the Government recognised that the new body had set free the most strongly-held Communist union in the country. . The union was starting off afresh, and had received nothing from the old union, Mr Peter said. The old body had amended its rules some time ago' so that the national union now had complete control of the Auckland branch funds.