AUCKLAND GAS SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 232, 25 June 1920, Page 7

AUCKLAND GAS SUPPLY

V ■ WORKERS' THREAT TO STRIKE SUCCESSFUL EFFORT AT CONCILIATION By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, June 24. ■ The gas workers' dispute culminated in the union deciding at. a special meeting held last evening w strike from tomorrow afternoon, shift workers'at 3 o clock and the balance two hours later. Ihe company Jiae '-been advised accordingly, the communication reading aa follows t~ "In thanking the board of directors for giving further consideration to our ap« plication' for an increase of wages, I .have the honour to inform you that your letter of Juno 21 was rml'ully oondidoreaat a special meeting of ihe union h'eld thig evening, and as we understand your board cannot go further than indicated in their letter to the union of .June 1, I nm reluotantly compelled to, advise you it was unanimously resolved that, as a protest against the inadequate wages, offered, shift workers will ceaso working for th'e company at 3 p.m. and other workers at 5 p.m. on .Friday, the 25th day of June, 1920.—(Signed) J. Clark, secretary," Further to this, a rfsolution was passed as follows:—"That this meeting, having received complete satisfaction by the manner in whichi the executive has conducted negotiations the Auckland Gas Company in reference to our application for increased wiiges, and owing to the reply received from the company directors after reconsidering their offer made on Juna 1, unreservedly places the dispute in tho hands of thie executive, full power to act, and also pledges itself to abide by any order or decision of tho executive."

i ru de0i8 ! 011 directors conveyed to union last evening reads' as follows:—"At a meeting of' my board held this day (Monday) I was instructed to inform you that the directors received 'with much'regret jour letter of June 15, informing them that a ballot taken had resulted: in a decision to reject the company's offer. The company's offer involves an increase in the paysheet of noarly ■ a year, and this, coming upon an s increase of a year made' in'-Jaiifiary'last, indicates that a pause must wine. The rates of Pa j 'l 48 conl P al 'y are on a high level and jbear favourable comparison with the wages paid in Other industries. It has always been the policy of this comto keop the price of gas down to the lowest point consistent with fair -wages to its employees. Tho directors point out .that the existing agreement was mado under tho provision of the Labour Disputes Investigation Act. and that the company's effer is largely in advance of the bonus of fls. granted since January last by tho Arbitration Court on the recommendation of the Government Statistician. The present offer means, in any case, a rise in the price of gas, but the directors consider that tho interests of consumers,are entitled to serious consideration, In these circumstances the board wish you to pleaso understand that thoy cai.not go further than indicated in their letter of June STRIKE,AVERTED : MR. CUTTEN AS MEDIATOR. By TelegrapU—PreJß Association. Auckland, June 24. The threatened strike was averted this evening by the efforts of' Mr. Cutten, 6.M., who presided at the proceedings when the agreement under which tho gas employees are now working was framed. Mr. Cutten conferred with the union and later with the company, and an agreement was reached on a basis whiob roughly amounted to "splitting the difference." Increases on the'company's offer were conceded which, summarised, comprise an advance of wages of approximately ten shilling per week, instead of eight shillings.