TIMBER WORKERS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 March 1933, Page 6

TIMBER WORKERS

ARRANGING NEW AGREEMENT CONFERENCE BREAKS DOWN. GREYMOUTH, March 7.

Representatives of the Westland Timber Workers’ Union and the milling employers met in conference yesterday relative to the matter of- a new agreement, the old one lurring expired on February 27. However, tlie conference broke down the parties failing to reach an agreement. The employers’ representatives weiOr Messrs J. W. Caldwell,. C. Malfroy, W. Ogilvie, and Guthrie and the union representatives were Messrs.. B. Topp, F. Turley, Barrow and Wills. The conference sat for tw 0 hours, but no agreement was arrived at, the wages question being the stumbling block. The employees’ representatives suggested that the millers go Kick to their association with a suggestion that a 12s minimum he paid, in lieu of ]3s Sd as in the old agreement just expired.. ’ ( The employers, however, would not agree, tq this.' They jjt ate d that they would suggest ills @d to

their association for a. minimum with a corresponding reduction on the whole of the. wages schedule. The union representatives were not prepared to recommend a settlement on this basis, ns they believed that the 12s per day they were prepared to recommend to the men, was the lowest possible point to which the union could go. A plan cf campaign has already been drawn up by the union, but. tins policy will more than likely be kept in abeyance until after Thursday next, when the union is making a last effort to bring about a settlement without any trouble in the industry. Meanwhile some of the millers have reduced wages, hut others have not advised the union of having removed from the old schedule.