NO SETTLEMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27241, 18 November 1949, Page 6

NO SETTLEMENT

BAKERY DISPUTE ABORTIVE CONFERENCE WEEK-END SHORTAGE OF 40.000 LOAVES PA AUCKLAND, Nov. 17. Supplies of bread for the week-end will be reduced by about 40,000 loaves as a settlement has not been reached in the dispute at the bakery of Walter Buchanan, Ltd. The serious shortage of bread which has been experienced in Auckland will continue to-morrow. Other bakeries say they are not able to bake extra supplies because of the labour shortage and the limitation of working hours imposed by the unipn. Discussions between representatives of the employees, the Federation of Labour, the Labour Department, the Bakers and Pastrycooks’ Union and the Drivers’ Union began at 9.30 this morning and lasted until 2.45 p.m. It was stated afterwards that the talks had ended in a deadlock. No lunch adjournment was taken, and the meeting broke up when the employees refused to return to work unless the dismissed man was reinstated. Asked to comment on the discussions, an official of the Bakers’ Union said the • dispute was not a union matter and the union was not taking part in it. Representatives of the Drivers’ Union refused to comment. Mr C. H. Thomas, manager of the firm, said he could not make any move that would help to improve the position. The man could not be reinstated without destroying discipline at the bakery. The Devonport Naval Base is baking enough bread to supply its ships during the week-end after waiting to see if the dispute were settled this afternoon and examining alternative sources of supply, without success. Cooks began baking at 6.30 to-night.