DRIVERS' DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2937, 24 November 1916, Page 7

DRIVERS' DISPUTE

EMPLOYERS OFFER REJECTED

UNION WILL NOT ACCEPT THE WAR BONUS

the outlook m the drivers' disputo is Jess satisfactory now than it has been since the trouble first began to take definite shape. After tho conference of employers of drivers on Wednesday, at which a resolution recommending the payment of a war bonus was carried, the Wellington employers notified their men that they would pay a 10 per cent, bonus on tho minimum wage, livery man earning the minimum wago was to receive a 10 per cent, bonus, and othor workers receiving a bigger wage were to receive bonuses also. Tho men had this information when the meeting of the union was held that evening, and tho union at tho meeting decided not to accept tho offer, but to hold out for tho original demand— £3 por week for singlehorse drivers, and £3 6s. for two-horso men. There the 'matter stands at present. So far as can be learned the employers haveno present intention of conceding the union's demands, and tho union appears to be determined to accept nothing less. Both sides have been conferring with the Minister of Labour (the Hon. W. 11. Herries) and the Acting-Primo Minister (the Hon. J. Allen), but for obvious reasons nothing is being divulged concerning what has been said at these interviews. Reply to Employers' Statement. The following official statement was supplied to tho Press yesterday as from the New Zealand Drivers' Federation:— "A meeting of delegates representing the New Zealand Federation of Drivers' Union was held at the Queen's Chambers this morning to discuss matters in relation to the present Dominion dispute as to wages and working conditions of drivers. Although no official communication has been received from the Employers' Federation, the full stato.mont of the employers' case, as supplied to the newspapers by Mr. W. secretary of the Employers' Federation,' was reviewed, and it was Tesolved that the statement is misleading. Amplo evidonce lias been submitted to tho Arbitration Court during the hearing of tho various disputes throughout tho country during the past 18 months, in direct opposition to the statements of Mr. Pryor, and tho time has gono by for juggling with figures which can bo made to prove anything, according to tho wishes of tho individual. Tho fact cannot bo denied that tho minimum is a standard and that £'2 12s. for 52 hours weekly (Is. per hour) is a starvation wago and wholly inadequate at tho present time. "Tho representatives cf tho Drivers' Unions have arrived in Wellington to talk business, and will be pleased to receive a definite offer from tho _ employers some cases employers are paying j£3 per week is a reasonable proposition. In some cases ompolyers are payin ' g£3 per week and over. The percentage is small, but would bo much greater only for the action of the Employers' Federation, as it is in loyalty to tho latter that the employers, who recognise the justice of the drivers' claims,, do not pay abovo tho minimum. The resolution passed by tho conference of employers to be convoyed to the Hon. J. Allen, Acting-Primo Minister, and the Hon. W. H. Herries, Acting-Minister of Labour, is indefinite, vague, and unsatisfactory, and cannot be ontortained." What the Coalminers Say. •> Representatives of the Coalminers' Federation aro in Wellington just now, and yesterday Mr. B. Semple, in tho presence and with tho assent of tho president and tho secretary of the Federation, 'mado the following statement to a Dominion reporter' :— "Tho cxecutivo of tho Coalminers' Federation have notified tho drivers that they will stand behind them in their trouble to whatever extent necessary. This assuranco is endorsed by every centre—North,' South, and West Coast. If tho drivers strike, and tho miners deem .it necessary to tako action in common with them, they' will do it. Tfio drivers, wo say, are asking only for a paltry living wage, and it should bo given to them without any equivocation." Tho Auckland Waterside Union has passed a resolution declaring that, in tho event of the drivers calling a strike,' its members will not handle cargo if "blackleg" drivers aro employed to cart it. WATERSIDERS DISCUSS THE DEMANDS. PROMISE OF SUPPORT. Tho drivers' disputo was tho first subject of consideration at a general mooting of tho Waterside Workers' Union held last night. About 350 members were present. Tho recommendation of the Union Executive was as follows:—"That the Drivers' Federation let the Watersido Federation know definitely what tho drivers' demands are, and that the Waterside Federation lio asked to deal with tho drivers' disputo nationally." Tho secretary of the union, who, supplied this information, pointed out that the waterside workers could not be satisfied with sectional treatment of the dispute. If a settlement were made in Wellington and not at Auckland, for instance, and cargo handled by free labour came hero from Auokland, the watersido workers would not bo ablo to touch it. Tho union thereforo wished the Federation to take up the matter. The resolution to adopt tho executivo recommendation was carried unanimously. The following further resolution was carried: "That this meeting wholeheartedly sympathises with the drivers in their demands, and promises to assist tho drivers with overv pbssiblo means to attain thoir object.'' The meeting also discussed tho Now South Wales coal strike, and adopted a recommendation from tho Federation. Tho terms of this recommendation wero not divulged. TRADES COUNCIL'S VIEWS. A SUPPORTING MOTION. Tho dispute was considered also at a special meeting of the Trades Council last night. Mr. M. J. Roardon presided, and the attendance was large. Representatives of the Drivers' Conference attended tho meeting and outlined the case for tho men. .After discussion it was unanimously resolved: "That the council extend its sincere sympathy to the Drivers' Union in their fight for just Jiving conditions,'' and trusts that their efforts will be crowned with success. And further, the council views with regret and dismay tho attitude of the employers in not agreeing to a satisfactory settlement of tho dispute, and considers that tho onus of any further trouble must now rest upon them." It was decided as a matter of urgency that members of the Ministry should bo asked to Teceivo a deputation from the council this morning, and to place boforo tho Government tho position of affiliated unions.