DRIVERS' DISPUTE.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16437, 3 February 1919, Page 5

DRIVERS' DISPUTE.

fr __ SOME VEILED THREATS, "The drivers' dispute is still unsetled, and if it is not settled soon there s likely to be trouble—very serious -rouble,'' said Air H. Hunter, s>ecetary of tiie United Federation 01 Liaoour, in a statement to a. represeu.aiivu ut "liie i/iess" on bai-uruay. "ilie Drivers i'eueratiou, acting in joucert witli the xransport Vvonieis' federation anu otiier national organisations, has been moving very cauuousij xnd Ueiioermciy vatii a view to obtaining an anueaoic settlement ol tne oispui,e,. and iia& done, every tiling possible to restrain tlie ranii ana filo ol the drivers liom doing anything or saying anything iikely to precipitate trouoie, but tile representatives ol the men are afraid that if the employers do not soon exhibit a greater desire to grant a reasonable living wage for a forty-eight hour week trouble will oe caused by the men themselves." "Delegates from all narts of New Zealand attended a meeting of the Wellington Drivers' Union last Saturday afternoon at Wellington," . continued Mr Hunter, "and the feeling exhibited by the men there was, very pronouncedly in favour of taking drastic action. They were only induced to refrain from doing so at »the earnest solicitation of delegates. "The latest move made by the employers, in seeking to drag the unions before the Arbitration Court while direct negotiations are in progress, has caused a considerable amount of lesentnient, and is not likely to facilitate the further progress of negotiations. In view of what is happening in other parts of the world on the industrial field, and knowing the temper of the workers of New Zealand, the drivers regret the attitude adopted by the employers beeausc of the danger of precipitating the conflict which, once started, would be very hard to confine ' within the limits of one industry. They consider, therefore, that it is the duty of all parties to bring pressure to 1 bear with a view to securing a settlement at the earliest possible mo- i ment." (PRESS ASSOCiatiox TELEGRAM.) i WELLINGTON, February 1. ] It is authoritatively stated that all j negotiations in connexion with the £ drivers' dispute failed. There is ( said to be little chance now of settle- 3 truant. hv "\