WORKERS’ UNION SATISFIED WITH MANGAKINO TRIBUNAL

Grey River Argus, 10 April 1948, Page 2

WORKERS’ UNION SATISFIED WITH MANGAKINO TRIBUNAL

Engineers Not To Obstruct Tribunal WELLINGTON, April 9. Pleasure at the Prime Minister’s announcement that the Government had decided to set up a tribunal for the settlement of the Mangakino dispute was expressed in a .statement from the head office of the New Zealand Workers’ Union last night. “We adhere to the principle involved. but are content to leave it to the tribunal to determine the merits and demerits of the case’’, the statement said. “The policy of the union has always been, and will continue to be one of co-operation with the Government, the Minister and the Department for the welfare of our members and the efficient prosecution of public works undertakings. “We are deeply appreciative of the many improvements enjoyed by our members and the workers generally, resulting from the Government’s legislation and social programme. It will be our continued endeavour to lend our support in the future to the advancement of the general good. “Our men will resume normal work as soon as the Department throws the job open”. The statement concluded by saying that three weeks would elapse before the workers would receive their first, pay, and that there was very great, need for substantial financial contributions to tide them over this period. FEDERATION’S APPEAL Satisfaction that the tribunal had been set up to deal with the dispute was expressed in a brief statement from the Federation of Labour. The statement drew attention to the fact that the workers of Mangakino would not receive their first pay for three weeks, and urged the need for continued financial support to time them over this period. A'similar statement was made by the Transport Workers’ Federation, which hailed the decision to set up the tribunal as good news. The Transport Workers’ Federation urged all its affiliations to contribute liberally to the appeal. The men had suffered severe monetary loss during the strike, and it was incumbent on all trade unionists to see that their wives and children did not suffer. UNION REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE TRIBUNAL WORK RESUMING ON MONDAY P.A. WELLINGTON, April 9. The New Zealand Workers’ Union representative on the Tribunal to deal with the Mangakino hydro-elec-tric works dispute, will be Mr W. P. Kelleher, of Auckland. • Announcing this to-night, the Minister of Labour, Hon. A. McLagan, said that, to meet the convenience of both parties, the hearing of the dispute has been put back to Monday, April 19. The Union had asked for more time to prepare its case, and the Government had met its wishes. Work at Mangakino' would resume on Monday. ENGINEERS NOT TO OBSTRUCT TRIBUNAL P.A. WELLINGTON, April 9. In a statement this afternoon, the Professional Engineers’ Association said that its attitude towards the Mangakino tribunal was that the tribunal was to settle a difference between the Government, as employer, and the union. In the national interest, and with a realisation that, the women and children at Mangakino were suffering hardship, the engineers did not object to a temporary reinstatement of the union • branch secretary.during the sitting of the tribunal.