RETURNING TO WORK

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 177, 28 June 1937, Page 8

RETURNING TO WORK

PETROL DRIVERS’ DECISION

AUCKLAND DISPUTE.

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 27,

A decision to return to work to-mor-row was made by 40 drivers of petrol wagons who ceased work on I riday as the result of a dispute over the application of the 40-hour week. _ vffotraeted discussions occupied nearly tne full day on Saturday, and although further meetings of the executive or the Auckland Drivers’ Union took place to-day no official statement vas made. However, it was learned that the employees would return on muen the original terms pending consideration of their claims for an interpretation of the award by the Arbitration Court next Saturday. Over the week-end the rush tor pettrol continued at the service stations. Supplies appeared to hold out longei than was expected, but this evening there were a number of pumps which were empty, and in a very large number of other stations only a tew gallons of motor spirit were left. Rationing was applied in many instances. Bakeries faced the week-end with concern, and in one case a staff ol mechanics was set to work on Saturday to convert the oil fuel furnaces to burn carbonettes. This involved the fitting of fire bars and the alteration of the combustion rate, and it was expected some difficulty would be experienced in obtaining adequate coal bring in the limited combustion space. The important transport services have not been affected to a major ffe--1 gree, although the principal of a taxi firm said fuel supplies were rapidly dwindling. On Saturday night two taxi companies operating were unable to book cars ahead for intending passengers. ~ . . _ „ With the Conciliation Commissioner, Mr R. E. Price, presiding, representatives of the men and the employers met on Saturday. As the afternoon waned without a decision being announced it was thought the into l ') ® n " tion of the Acting-Prime Minister (Hon. P. Fraser) might be sought, but shortly after his arrival at 4.30 p.m. in the Union Airways aeroplane Kotare the meeting dispersed. The representatives of the employees did not meet Although* pickets were posted at the depots until Saturday afternoon, the men exercised every restraint, ana there was no occasion when the » employees had occasion to suspect trouble. Several petrol and fuel wagons were allowed into the yards on Saturday, but there was no staff present to undertake handling or filling. It was also stated that emergency services would not be embarrassed by the strike. The secretary of the union, Mr Matthews, announced that arrangements had been made to ensure that such services should be supplied with fuel oil. These include . hospitals, ambulances, doctors and fire brigades. It was also intimated that other applications for petrol supplies would be considered on their merits by the executive which is handling the clispute on behalf of the men. The company which was threatened with the possibility of having to dismiss its men if the furnaces wore not fed with crude oil was given a supply last night, and the St. John Ambulance stated this morning that it also had received petrol for its ambulances. Reports to hand to-day state that some drivers in the country centres of the Auckland province ceased to work at one o’clock yesterday, but the majority continued to drive their wagons untif five o’clock. The union secrctaiv stated to-day that the country. men were now supporting the city driveis.

POSITION IN CHRISTCHURCH

NO EXTENSION YET

Per Press Association. "CHRISTCHURCH, June 26. It seems unlikely that the strike of petrol lorry drivers in Auckland will )>e extended to Christchurch as yet. There lias been no suggestion that a meeting of the Drivers’ Union or its executive should be called in Christchurch, and Mr E. Parlane, secretary, said this morning that the first body to indicate a line of action would probably be the Dominion organisation, with headquarters in AA'ellington, to which the provincial unions are affiliated. While the Christchurch petrol lorry drivers, in common with those of Auckland, hold the opinion that they should have a forty-hour week and that the meal time of half an hour should be paid for, the position has not apparently raised the same degree of. discontent in Christchurch. The drivers work their forty-four hours over five days and it is fairly rare for them to be" called back for Saturday morning work. The oil and petrol depots observe the five-day week.