THE GAS TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3152, 2 August 1917, Page 6

THE GAS TROUBLE

A-. SETTLEMENT ANNOUNCED. "The gasworks strike has been settled," announced the Prime Minister yesterday morning. "Five conferences havo heen held," he continued, "presided over by myself, and at the final conference this morning' aU agreement was arrived at which was satisfactory to myself, to-the directors of the Gas Company, and tho men concerned. An agreement has teen signed by the Prime Minister, the chairman of directors of the Gas Company, the president of tho Waterside Workers Union concerned, and the representatives of the men. Ten of the men wero present at tho last two conferences. Any outstanding ; points remaining w'dispute are to be settled by arbitration; the arbitrator to be the President of thei Arbitration Court if ho will accept the ipos!{i ° The possibility," added the Prime Mmister, "of a very serious trouble has been averted."" Terms of Agreement, "The" terms of the agreement arrived at are as follow:— ,■',', . Eight mon to be taken back at once, three as firemen and the rest as yardmen in ordor of seniority, and in the meantimo at the respective wages for the position now paid by the Wellington Gas Company; the other men .to have preference m order of seniority up to a period of six months from this date, the Minister of Public Works to find employment in the City of Wellington or its Lrhoodfor any of the men not taken Xby the company; the folowing matters to be referred to arbitration by Mr. Tustice Stringer, or, failing lini. some oftei Judge of 'the Supreme Court: £ tho rate of wages to-be .paid to.the letoit hands; (b) tho conditions of laboui in tne SI in connection with future of members of Jho Watersido Workers* Union was hold in the " xeStative of &o™thatlu,'f.adßoinformationto disclose to the Press.;■