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Chronicle (Levin), 21 March 1949, Page 5

AUCKLANP, Ma-rch 20. Auckland i carpenters, now in their fifth jpbless week, decided at a special meeting at Carlaw Park this morning not to return to work by a 221 majority. • About 750 menibers oi" the carpenters' Union attended the meeting. Pickets were posted around the gronnd. A union spokesman announced later that- the following reso.Iution was car ;ried by 495 votes to 22.9 : — ' ' That tffin mass meeting of locked-out carpenters and joiners, called to consider the demand of the national exeeutive of the Federation of Labour to resume norma) work, considers that such a demand ifin direct confliet with the national council's resolution of moral an'd financial support. We, therefore, reaffirm our determination to continue the struggle around our just demands, and to call on the nationai exeeutive of the i Federation of Labour to implement lm mediately to the full the decision of its highest governing body./*' Another resolution carried with su dissentients was: "We express our heartfelt appreciation of all individuals and organisations, particularly the Waterside Workers' Union and the Drivers' Union, who so loyaily implemented the resolution of the nationa) council of the Federation of Labour of moral and financial support in our struggle in defence of the hard-won conditions and increased living standards. We again place on record our - complete confidence in our national and local officials in handling this dispute. ' "We are absolutely determw-d tp continue our resistance tq illegal direci' action," said the president of the Auckland Master Biilders' Association (Mr. J. M. Whittaker) when informed of the carpenters' decision not to return to work. "There is absolutely no reason to doubt the sincere ueiief of the Auckland builders ' other employees

that the Carpenters-.' Union attempt tp flout the law and wreck the arbitration systein must be defeated. ■ "It is disappointing that 800 or more carpenters dLeetly affectedj.by the dispute were willing to leave such a vital decision to 724 members of the union. The builders' stand was taken in the belief that every member of the union is responsible and equally culpable for any union decision. "The result of today 's meeting reinforees my opinioi. that our action was correct and the only possible one. The 800 men who did not attend the meet in^ were, in my opinion, even more eulpable for the union 's action than the 495 who voted in favour of eontinuing a policy of direct antagonism to the general feeling of the local and nation al trade union organisations, and in" direct confliet with the interests of the general public and the workers' own Government. "The carpenters will not be the only ones affeeted by their decision. Many of their fellow workers will be a'most equally affected as labourers aud subeontraetors' tradesmen cannit be employed indefinitely in the absence oi carpenters from their jobs. ' '