BREAD DISPUTE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20499, 16 May 1938, Page 8

BREAD DISPUTE

AGREEMENT REACHED CONFERENCE WITH MINISTER (Special to Times) AUCKLAND, Monday An agreement was reached at a conference yesterday with the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T- Armstrong, of parties representing the employer- and employees in the dispute affecting the drivers employed by G. K. Mathieson, Limited, bakers. Mount Eden, following an all-day conference. On the Minister’s suggestion a tribunal is to be appointed to consider the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of the worker which was the cause of the drivers strike and each side had agreed to abide by the tribunal's decision. The men offered themselves for work this morning. Mr Armstrong said he had followed the dispute closely from the beginning and had had every phase thrashed out, but he did not wish to comment in any way on the merits of the case because of the fact that it had been agreed to submit it to the tribunal, which would take evidence and rule accordingly. **l made a stipulation that no tribunal would be set up unless I had an assurance beforehand from both sides that they would abide by the decision, whatever it was,” Mr Armstrong added.

ATTEMPTS TO SETTLE MINISTER’S ACTIVITIES APATHY CHARGE RESENTED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Monday Regarding the Auckland baking industry trouble, the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, issues the following statement:— “The matter was first brought to my notice by the secretary of the Auckland Employers’ Association at Auckland on Wednesday, May 11, and 1 ordered and received the same day a preliminary report from my department about the matter. • This report outlined the causes believed to be behind the trouble and indicated that the Conciliation Commissioner at Auckland and two members of the Auckland executive of the Federation of Labour had already made efforts without success to effect a settlement. From then until the present, efforts had been made continuously by officials of the Labour Department and by Mr W. J. Lyon, M.P., to secure ; a resumption of work. I have been in constant touch with the position through my department and through Mr Lyon, who has rendered splendid service in the matter. • The statement in to-day’s papers attributed to the master bakers’ representative and charging apathy on my part is not true and not helpful. The matter has been one of constant action by me through the appropriate offlelsl channels since it was first reported and every opportunity has been given to the parties to settle the matter amicably. “After consultation with Mr Lyon by telephone this morning I have decided to proceed to-night to Auckland and I am hopeful that, normal working will have been resumed on Monday. If this proves not so an immediate decision will be made as to what further steps will be taken by the Government.” MEN RESUME WORK (By Telegraph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND. Monday As a result of yesterday’s conference between the parties in the bakers' dispute and the .Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, the men j offered themselves for duty again and I were accepted this mornin-