THE DRIVERS'DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2939, 27 November 1916, Page 7

THE DRIVERS'DISPUTE

UNION DECIDES TO AWAIT CONFERENCE

RESULT' OF BALLOT NOT ANNOUNCED

; X&e members of tHo Drivers' Union )nefc'yesterday to consider tho dispute, sas it now presents itself, and their dojtaeion .waa made definitely to suspend (Siostilities, or rather to defer consideration. of tho question of oalling a strike jiuntil after the conferonco has met on ; Tuesday. It may bo that after tho conference tlioy will decide to striko, or to accept suck terms as may bo ' offered as the result of negotiations. The meeting yesterday was attended . by about 400 members of the union, ' arid all tlio visiting delegates were present: Tho principal item .of, business was to receive the result of the strike , ballot whicli bad been, taken during tlio week. On this matter, however, tho scrutineers made the following rocom-' inendation to tlio meeting:— • "For the reason that tho Auckland drivers have,suspended striko aotion until after . tho conference has been held on Tuesday next, wo recommend that tho Wellington ballot result be withheld from the publio pending tho decision of tho conference. , The suggestion, of a strike ballot as a protest against the refusal of tho 'employers to meet the union in conference has been successful in achieving part of the obj'eot. tho drivors had in view. It is advisable, we think, therefore, to allow this conference to deliberate without having its decisions confronted with the threat pf a strike. Now that a opnferenoe has been secured, it is our opinion that the best interests of the drivers " will be gained by the exercise of a spirit of conciliation.- "We. hope "that . members will accept this sugestion. If the conference fails to arrive at a satisfactory agreement, a, further meeting may be convened immediately after the conference, at which f.ho said figures will be announced, , and further action, if ncecssary, decided upon." This recommendation, was. adopted after the facts-, of tho case had been .very fully explained to the members, nnd discussed by the meeting. A meeting of the Transport -Workers' Federation Advisory Board is summoned, for to-day to consider the drivers' dispute. Resolutions supporting the Drivers' Union have been passed by the Executive Council of the Seamen's. Union, ■ and by the Wellington Brancli of the New Zealand Federated Furniture Trades' Association.