TROUBLE AT THE BEALEY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14978, 21 May 1914, Page 7

TROUBLE AT THE BEALEY.

INSTITUTION OF CONTRACT

WORK

DEPARTMENT AND MEN

(PRISS ASSOCIATION' TTXEGBAM .^ GItKYMOUTH, May 20

Hearing of trouble at tho Bealey end of tho Otira tunnel, a "Grey River Argus" reporter interviewed Mr H. T. Armstrong, secretary of tho workers' union, as to the causes. Mr Armstrong supplied tho following account: — "Since McLean and Sons gavo up tho contract for tho Otira tunnel, tho Public Works Department hos carried out tho work on day labour, and, according to statements made by Ministers, has given satisfaction. Thoy woro satisfied with tho progress mode. About three weeks ago a notice was posted at tho Bealey end, stating thai, according to instruction!? from the Minister, tho x tunnel work would bo done on contract from May lth. Tho men then held a meeting to discusa tho position, and passed a resolution refusing to tako contract work. They also sent a deputation to tho <jiigineeiMnchargo to explain their reasons for not taking same- Thcycngineer agreed to hold the contract work back for a fortnight, and in the meantime they would try to arrange conditions ana prices that would be more satisfactory to tho mon. Tho deputation again mot tho engineer a week later, and informed him that they wero instructed by tho men to refuse to tako work on v contract- However, they discussed with him the prices and conditions. Tho j engineer then agreed to increase the j prices, and put the tunnel in working j order, to supply more tools, trucks, machines, and many other things considered necessary before starting work on contract. The, deputation then reported to a meeting of men, but tho contract work was again, refused by them. J then wired the Minister.of Public Works, protesting against the contract work, contending that it would increase tho number of accidents, which wqr<> already far too numerous. Tho Minister's reply was to the effect that his engineer had reported that progress was unsatisfactory, and that the change to tho contract system w.ac necessary. Tho next move by the Department was to send Mr Cowing, who is in charge of the Bealey end to interview each man individually, and put down the names for or against tho contract system. Some were told that if they did not take up contract work they would be lockod-out. Others wero told that no ono would know how they voted, but tho 'boss' had to know in every case. Perhaps this is th© kind of secret ballot that Mr Ma&sey is going to give us in his ivew Bill. On Sunday last tho won had another meeting, when, notwithstanding their objections to tho contract system, they agreed to take it eooner than havo trouble. As soon as the conditions agreed to by the Department had been complied "with, however, the Department did not keep its part of the agreement, but, instead, locked the men out and closed down the works. According to the Industrial Disputes Act passed last session, whether a union is registered under the Arbitration Act or not, fourteen days 1 notice must be given to tbo Minister oP labour of its intention to strike, and by the employer of his intention to lock-out, which wae not done by the Department. It will bo interesting now to fob whether the Public Works Department will bo prosecuted for a breach of tho Industrial Disputes Act. The mon were willing to start oi contract ■ work as soon as tho Department complied with their part of tho agreement. It is another square deal for Labour." ,