PROSPECTS HOPEFUL

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20230, 26 June 1937, Page 8

PROSPECTS HOPEFUL

AN EARLY SETTLEMENT. STRIKERS TO ATTEND CONFERENCE SUPPLIES RUNNING SHORT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Saturday. The rush for petrol continued at all bowsers throughout the forenoon and supplies are running low. There was a conference between the parties from 11 a.m. to 1.15 p.m. before tiie conciliation commissioner, Mr R. E. Price. At the adjournment the union secretary, Mr Matthews, said prospers for a settlement were hopeful and In the meantime picketing would be abandoned. A certain proposition put to the men would be considered during the adjournment. It is understood that when the conference resumes the whole of the 40 men concerned in the strike will assemble at the commissioner’s room. The employers deny a report that all drivers in country districts in the Auckland Province have ceased work. TRADE HAMPERED. BULK STATIONS PICKETED. (Special to Times.) AUCKLAND, Saturday. Already the petrol drivers’ strike has had widespread effects. Throughout yesterday there was a rush on petrol stations and supplies are diminishing rapidly owing to the unprecedented demand. In both the baking and the delivery of bread Auckland bakers are threatened with a very serious position through the strike of the oil company drivers. A number of bakeries use crude oil for heating the ovens and all of them deliver their bread In motorvans, so that unless Arms are assured of adequate supplies of oil next week they fear grave interference with their business.

Picketing of the bulk Installations of the five main companies, the Vacuum, Shell, Texas, Atlantic Union and Associated Motorists’, in Freeman’s Bay, was commenced by the strikers yesterday morning. A number of contractors delivering petrol for the Associated Motorists’ company continued working yesterday, in spite of there being pickets at the entrance to the company's premises. No other deliveries of petrol were made, however, the tank-waggons of the other four companies being idle. Most, bus services will continue for a period, using accumulated stocks of fuel. They plan to run until supplies are exhausted. Freight services are in a similar position. Fishing is likely to be curtailed, several seine-net boats being unable to leave port yesterday. A number of others are at sea. Deliveries of all commodities are expected to end If petrol-stations cease selling. OTAGO SITUATION. NO FEAR OF STOPPAGE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Friday. The secretary of the Otago Drivers’ Union, Mr 11. Brown, slated to-day that there was little likelihood of drivers employed by local petrol companies adopting the methods of the men In Auckland. There had, indeed, been not the slightest suggestion that they proposed doing so. Mr Brown explained that the Auckland drivers worked on Saturday morning, but drivers in Otago, while they did a 4 4-hour week, worked only from Monday to Friday and had no Saturday work. The' question of an award covering these drivers was already being investigated by the Labour Department, which only that day had advised that It was treating the matter as urgent.

NO ACTION YET. WELLINGTON ATTITUDE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. Although no statement on the position In Wellington so far as oil company drivers is concerned was forthcoming to-night from the secretary of the Wellington Drivers’ Union, Mr A. Parlane, it was learned that there would he' no stoppage of work until the position had been fully considered by the Wellington unionists. “Because of the flve-dav week, there is very little work done on Saturday, anyway,” said Mr Parlane, “and the question as to what move, if any, will he made next week remains to be

Surprise at the tone' of the statement by the secretary of the Auckland Drivers’ Union, indicating expectation of a Dominion-wide stoppage was expressed in both union and employers’ circles in Wellington.

NO GREAT DISCONTENT. OPINION IN CHRISTCHURCH. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. It, seems unlikely that the strike of petrol lorry drivers in Auckland will he extended to Christchurch. As yet there has been no suggestion that a meeting of the Drivers’ Union or its executive should be called in Christchurch and Mr. E. Parlane, secretary, said I his morning that I lie first body to i indicate a line of action would probably be Ihe Dominion organisation with | headguarters in Wellington to which ! the provincial unions are affiliated, j While the Christchurch petrol lorry 1 drivers, in common with those of Auckland, hold the opinion that they should have a 40-hour week and that meal time of half-an-hour should be paid for. the position lias not, apparently raised the same degree of discontent. in Christchurch. ’Pile drivers work their 44 hours over live days and it. is fairly rare for them to he railed hack for Saturdax morning work. Oil and petrol depots observe a five-day week-