FREEZING WORKERS’ DISPUTE

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1933, Page 7

FREEZING WORKERS’ DISPUTE

QUESTIONS ASKED IN THE HOUSE. REPLY BY MINISTER OF LABOUR. (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. A Survey of the position of the freezing 4 workers’ industrial dispute was given by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. A. Hamilton, in the House of Representatives this afternoon in reply to a series of questions addressed to him by Mr. S. G. Smith, who drew attention to the serious loss being suffered by business men as a result of the hold-up. The inability of the parties to agree was • regrettable, the Minister said, and he could assure Mr. Smith that he had given! a great deal of time to endeavouring to find a satisfactory solution. The dispute was created through the old agreement running out. The employers cited the employees and conciliation meetings were held throughout the main centres with a view to arriving at a new agreement, but after every effort had been made no agreement was reached and the award expired. The necessary legal steps had been taken to arrive at an agreement, the Minister said, and in addition he had brought the parties together on two or three occasions,. but without result.