CAS WORKS STRIKE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 December 1943, Page 2

CAS WORKS STRIKE

A MORI; SERIOUS TURN NEGOTIATIONS WITH EMPLOYERS SOME HOPE OF SETTLEMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, December 21. Though the strike of employees of the Auckland Gas Company took a more serious turn today, some hope of settlement had appeared at the end of the day. A joint announcement made by Mr F. Craig, president of the Auckland Trades Council, and Mr A. Bell, secretary of the Auckland Gas Employees’ Union, advised the employees of the company that as there was a possibility of their dispute being settled they should attend a meeting tomorrow morning prepared for work.

It was stated that .the Auckland Trades Council and the Gas Employees’ Union had opened up negotiations, and if the workers agreed, work might be resumed immediately without further inconvenience to the public. In order to get through the business as soon as possible, the time of the meeting in the Trades Hall has been brought forward from 9 a.m. to 8 a.m. The manager of the company, Mr R. Worley, stated that jf the men started work in the morning, it was possible that gas would be available by Friday afternoon. The failure of negotiations with the workers this morning was followed by a call by the company, acting upon an instruction, for volunteer labour to man the works. The company received many inquiries, but not enough labour was offering to start the works tonight. The men at their meeting this morning, it is understood, put up alternative proposals: (1) That they should be given an all-round increase of 3d an hour, and (2) that the Government should take over the gasworks and operate them on a co-operative basis, the same as the Waikato mines.' It is reported that the Government, after a meeting of Cabinet, definitely refused these demands and informed the men that they should return to work immediately. The men considered the Government’s reply and resolved to remain on strike. The gates at the gasworks were shut and the manager notified industries that there would be no gas this week. The Mayor, Mr Allum, as Chief Warden, called wardens together this afternoon with a view to discussing the organising of cooking for hospitals and the public.

MINISTER OUTSPOKEN.

GOVERNMENT WILL MEET SITUATION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day., “It is unthinkable that the public should suffer, as they undoubtedly will, as a result of the action of the workers, and even at this late stage the workers would be well advised to consider seriously whether wiser counsels should prevail and so end the present deadlock,” said the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, in a statement last night concerning the stoppage of work at the Auckland, gasworks. “Failing this,” he added, “the Government will have no option but to meet the situation by all the means at its disposal.”