URGENT MOVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27499, 20 September 1950, Page 6

URGENT MOVES

Leaders Confer LAST-MINUTE EFFORT A WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. Eleventli-hour attempts to avoid a serious industrial crisis throughout New Zealand, were made in Parliament Buildings tonight, but discussions were still in progress at 0.45 a.m. with no word of a settlement.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Frasei'. accompanied by several of his parliamentary colleagues, met leaders of the Waterside Workers’ Union and other prominent trade union officials at a conference with the Prime Minister. Mr Holland, and the Minister of Labour, Mr Sullivan, immediately after the House rose at 10.30 p.m. This conference, which is believed to have taken place at Mr Fraser’s request, followed talks earlier in the evening between Mr Fraser and his colleagues in the Opposition and a large group of trade union leaders.

These talks began about 8 p.m. when a group of union officials appeared in Parliament Buildings to meet Mr Fraser and other members of the Opposition. Those present included the national president of the Waterside Workers’ Union, Mr H. Barnes, the national secretary, Mr T. Hill, the vice-presi-dent of the Federation of Labour,’Mr F. P. Walsh, the national secretary of the TUC, Mr A. B. Grant, Messrs F. G. Young, R. Eddy and others. Those associated with Mr Fraser included Messrs W. Nash, C. F. Skinner, A. McLagan, M. Moohan and R. Semple The talks continued almost until the time when the deputation waited on Mr Holland in the latter’s office. The talks were still proceeding shortly before midnight.