CALLED OFF

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1940, Page 6

CALLED OFF

AUCKLAND TRAMWAYS AT REQUEST OF MINISTRY OF LABOUR. TRIBUNAL SET UP UNDER WAR REGULATIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association., AUCKLAND. May 3. After nearly four days of go-slow tactics the Auckland tramwaymen resumed the normal operation of the trams from about 5.30 this afternoon as the result of a request by the Minister of Labour (Mr. Webb). Whether or not the men will achieve their full demands for increased pay will be decided by the tribunal set up under the War Emergency Regulations by the Minister which will meet in the morning. The Minister's decision to set up the tribunal was made today, and followed an unsuccessful attempt on the previous day by his liaison officer (Mr. C. L. Hunter) to bring the parties together immediately under clause 58 of the industrial agreement between the board and the uniop.

By invoking the War Emergency Regulations lhe Minister has taken the dispute, entirely out ’of the hands of the’parties concerned, which are compelled to negotiate through the tribunal. According to an announcement by Mr. Hunter, Mr. S. Ritchie. Conciliation Commissioner, of Christchurch, has been appointed chairman of the tribunal. and the board and union will be represented by three assessors each. Mr. Hunter said the assessors would give the case for their respective sides, and the chairman would make the final decision as to the matter in dispute. Such decision would be binding on either side subject to penalty under the War Emergency Regulations. The Minister's request that normal schedules should be resumed immediately was conveyed to the men by Mr. Hunter.