AGREEMENT REACHED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20966, 19 February 1938, Page 8

AGREEMENT REACHED

DISPUTE AT BORTHWICK’S Bv Telegraph —PiAssociation CHRISTCHURCH, February 18. A settlement was reached this afternoon of the dispute at the Belfast Works ot Thomas Borthwick and Sons (Australasia) Ltd., and work will be resumed to-morrow morning. An undertaking has now been given that work shall proceed smoothly and that in future any matters in dispute shall be first referred to a committee to deal with. This committee will comprise representatives of the company and on the part of the men will include representation from the Federation ot Labour-. An undertaking was also given concerning the company's rights In the regulation of the speed of the chains in the terms of the award. The settlement was reached at a conference lasting five hours, the chairman being Mr M. J. Reardon, Conciliation Commissioner, whose assistance and handling of discussions were later praised by both sides. The usual call for labour was made at Belfast this morning, and in accord with the decision ot the union at its meeting last night, the two men whom the ’inion alleged had been victimised were the first to answer. They were not accepted and the men again resolved not to resume work. After the men declined to answer the call for labour a meeting was held. It lasted half an hour, and the motion was carried expressing confidence in the two men. , The official statement issued by the conference and embody'ng the t.err--of the settlement contained no reference to the two men or to the ehat-fj-v made by t’-e union.