MEETING TROUBLE HALF-WAY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1466, 14 June 1912, Page 5

MEETING TROUBLE HALF-WAY.

CITY ' COUNCIL AND DRIVERS' FEDERATION. A rambling discussion took place at the Cit.v Council meeting last evoning, on tho subject of a proposal by the Mayor (Mr. D. M'Laren) with reference to the Drivers' Federation. Tho Mayor said that noting the action which had been taken by the Drivers' Federation in connection with their wages and working conditions, he had invited them to write to the council, asking for a conference, this proceeding being preferable, ho thought, to the probable alternative of being cited as a party to, the dispute when the case came before the Arbitration Court. The federation adopted his suggestion, and wrote 'stating that it was "the wish of the federation to arrange for separate agreements with city councils and borough councils in their respective districts "with •, reference to the wages and working conditions of drivers jn their employ." The letter also stated that the Wellington Drivers' Union would be pleased to appoint representatives to meet represantatives from the council at an early date. He (tho Mayor) now jnoved_ to refer the letter to the Finance Committee for consideration and report. A good deal of opposition was shown to the Mayor's proposal. Such a. conferonce would, it was contended, prejudice outside employers, and tend to embarrass the Arbitration Court when dealing with the case. In any event, the council should have waited until the federation liad formulated its demands and presented them, and not meet trouble halfway. It was considered that no action should be taken until the merits of the case had been. argued before the Court. On the motion of Councillor Trevor, the matter was deferred.