SIDELIGHTS OF DISPUTE

Chronicle (Levin), 12 March 1949, Page 5

SIDELIGHTS OF DISPUTE

r Press Association )

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AUCKLAND, Marcn n. Replies to the cireular asking carpenters to express their opinion for or against the holding of a secret ballot, were eounted by" ' Mr. J." B. Paterson, J.P., today. He Will 'continue the count on Tuesday as many of the circulars were not posted until Wednesday and the men have not had sufficient time to^ return them. The result of today 's count was forwarded by Mr. Paterson to, the Minister of Labour, Mr. McLagan. One of fhe original members of the action committee, Mr. S.'V. Kuypers, seeretary of the Auckland branch of the Ainalgamated Society of Railway Servants, annonnced that he had withdrawn from the committee at the request of the national exficutive of his union. The action committee of representatives of the unions affected by the dispute, met today and later made a statement declaring that it was a eoordinating committee acting on recomtnendations from the unions affected. The Auckland -Shipwrights' Union has expressed its intention of taking no action in the dispute at present. At an executive meeting it was decided that the union would continue to support and express its complete confidence in the Federation of Labour and that it would not be involved in the dispute until the matter had been handed over to the federation for settlement. It would then Abide by any deeision of the federation. A small shipment of New Zealand butter which was to have been despatehed to India, had to remain in the Auckland Farmers ' Freezing Company 's eool stores beeause of the dispute. The butter was booked to be loaded into the Union Steam Ship Company V lifler Monowai whieh left this afternoon for Sydney ' where the eonsignment would have been transhipped for the East. It is. understood that 600 boxes of butter were in,volved. The Waterside Workers' Union informed th'e shipping company that it . was not prepared to load the butter. Although the requisition was lodged for labour to work the Northumberlanfl, men were allocated to other- 'ships and the vessel was idle throughout the day. . , •»