FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS

Press, Volume L, Issue 14970, 18 May 1914, Page 3

FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS

(S__ClA_ TO "THE PRESS.") '/" AUCKLAND, May 16. .At a largely attended meeting of the Bricklayers' Union held last evening tho question of "blackballing the contract for the new Grammar School at Mt. Eden was reconsidered.

The position has already been fully explained. A man named Arnold, at the time of the big strike last year, was engaged with others on certain work as a plasterer. A strike 'picket came along and reminded him that he was a member of tho Bricklayers' Union, and that as such he should quit work. Arnold replied that lie was also a member of the Plasterers' Union which was not on strike, that he had not worked as a.bricklayer for a long time prior to the strike, and that ho would promise not to work as a bricklayer while the strike lasted. Beyond that, however, ho refused to go. Tlie next development occurred on Friday night of last week, whan a meeting of the Bricklayers' Union was held. It was explained that Arnold was now employed as a bricklayer at the new Grammar School in the course of erection at Mt. Eden. It was further stated that the Union's view of his caso wa. not so much his refusal to join in the strike as his action in working during that period on a contract which was at the timo a "blackballed" job.

By 24 ' votes to 22 last week's meeting decided ■to "blacklist" Arnold, and. the outcome was that rather than'continue to w.r.'r with him on the Mt. Eden contract a dozen bricklayers "downed tools.'* Last night's general meeting of the Urion was well attended. No information was forthcoming v.-hen th* officials wore asked for a statement, but it is understood that the meeting not onhdeeided to confirm the revolution carried at the previous meeting, but- that it also resolved to "blackball the working foreman on tho Mt. Eden job, who is a member of the Union, but refused to "down tools;' last week when the other men employed obeyed the Ini-on's mandate.

The genera] foreman on the Mt. Eden contract, wh'c.i is to run into an expenditure of over £'31000. when seen this morning, said that the work was being consider, hlv hampered by the tactics of the Union. Both his working foreman and tho ''blackballed" bricklayer were first-class men, in fact, all the men orieinally employed had been first-class hands, sure of twelve mouths' engagement. He had since been able to engage seven men, non-un"onists, who were working on the job. but the position, from his point of view, was exceedingly unfortunate.

When enquiry- was at the Labour Department- office this morning, it was ascertained that tbe officials there were enquirirg into the circumstances, but beyond that no information could be obtained.