MEASURE OF AGREEMENT ON WANGANELL DISPUTE

Chronicle (Levin), 31 May 1947, Page 7

MEASURE OF AGREEMENT ON WANGANELL DISPUTE

—Press Assnciation

3y Telegravh-

W ELLl-N vi TUiN , May oU. When the Strikes and Loelcouts Tribunal 011 the Wanganelia dispute uiet in Wellington tonight it was announeed that some measure of agreenient had been reaehed between the employers and wo rivers and that the remaiuing issue to be decided was the dispute 011 wage rates for the rnen while the sliip was 011 the reef. The employers ' advocate (Mr. S. G. Stephenson) said an agreement had oeen reaehed 011 the elaini for the men while the sliip was on the doek and any tinie after that until the completion of the job. The hearing tonight was on the elaini by the workers for 17s (3d an hour for all the time spent by them on the Wanganelia while the ship was 011 the reef and travelling time. The rate paid by the employers, William Gable ' and Company, was 17s 6d an hour during actual working time. The only men involved in the dispute with the employers are members of the Wellington Eoilermakers ' and the Metalworkers ' Uniou and the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Engineering Workers' Gnion. The chairman of the Tribunal was the Coneiliation Commissioner (Mr S. liitehie). Mr. P. E. Warne was advocate for the workers who were also represented by Messrs C. G. Casweil, J. Neale and A. C. Dellaway. The ern--ployers' representatives were Messrs G. G. Camp, James Cable and A. Belford, and Mr. Stephenson was the employers' advocate. Evidenee for the workers had been heard when the Tribunal adjourned until tomorrow. Four workers gave evidenee of hardship and the dangers involved in- their work. Questions to them by the employers' representatives were mainly to the point of whether they understood there had been any agreement reaehed on wages at tke time they were actually working on the ship.