EMPLOYERS BLAMED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19979, 3 July 1939, Page 7

EMPLOYERS BLAMED

DRIVERS’ UNION DISPUTE NEGOT I ATI.ON S EXPLAINEI) REFUSAL OF COMMITTEE (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. _ In a statement to-day in his capacity -as president of the New Zealand Drivers’ Federation, Mr. A. Par lane declared that if, through the attitude adopted by the employers yesterday, trouble arose, the employers would be responsible. He said that on receipt of word that there was trouble at Auckland, and on receiving the details, he got in touch with Mr. T. O. Bishop, secretary of the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, with the object of seeing whether the v points of difference could be referred io a disputes committee. Mr. Bishop was favourable to this course and Mr. Parlane communicated with officials of the Auckland union acordingiy. The secretary and assistant secretary of the Auckland union came to Wellington with the object of having the matters in dispute dealt with by the disputes committee. “We- 'met the employers, yesterday morning, tout we found it was not a disputes committee meeting, but merely a conference with the employers.” he said. “After hearing cur arguments, the employers said that if there were any matters which in their opinion should be referred -to the disputes -committee they would agree to that course being followed. After discussing the matter till the luncheon adjournment, we retired and met them again in the afternoon. The employers then gave us their decision, which was a refusal to refer the matters in dispute to a disputes committee provided for in the award.”