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Chronicle (Levin), 5 February 1949, Page 7

Press Assactatior)

(Per

WELLLNGTUIN, Feb. 4. "A blaxxk refusal vvith 110 further jiossibiJities of discussion was tlie attitude adopted by the employers vvheu they met trade union representatlves yesterday in connection with the industrial uxxrest. whieh has developed iu regard to the recent carpenters' antl joiners' a.ward," stated the nationai president ( .M r. F. L. Langley) and the nationai secretary (Mr. li. Staniey) ot ihe New Zealaud Carpenters ' and Joiners' Union, in a joint stateuient today. ' ' Wliexi the employers at the confer cnee yesterday read out a brief statemexft siniply stating thev would abido by tlie decision of the Arbitration Courl tliey slanuned the door against any possibility of a couciliatory solution. In the light of their statement no further | discussion was possible. Thus the uii- 1 rest whieh exists among our members will continue, and it is plain- that the resp.onsibility for its continuanee rests 011 tlie employers. "The matters about whieh our meiii- j bers are most concerned are,: (1) The failure of the Court to grant a wage rate of 4s per hour; (2) the action of tlie Court in reverting to substantially tlie same travelling tiine provisions tif the FJ43 award whieh had sinee beea greatlv improved; (3) the aefiOxx oi tlie Court in granting complete exemption of non-builder employers from paymeut of fares and travelling tinxe. " It is satisfactory to find that as ihdividuals manv hundreds of einpiuyers have alreadv recognised in prae.fi ce tlie justice of tlie workers' claims and in partieular have refused to operatu tlie lessened conditions of suburban work. Xaturallv their attitude is appreciated, and our members will no douiit take it into aeeount iu discussing any future action to be taken. "