OTIRA TUNNEL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16166, 21 March 1918, Page 6

OTIRA TUNNEL.

TO-DAY'S DEPUTATION TO

MINISTER

(SPECIAL TO 4, THB rB*SS. ) WELLINGTON, March 20. An attempt is apparently being made in Christchurch or at Otira to put ie Minister of Public-Works in the wrong concerning the trouble at the Otira tunnel works. The alleged grievance ot the men is that a boy has been discharged wrongfully. A deputation is to meet the Minister to-morrow and it will be rather surprising if this even the main grievance of the men. it lias never been the policy or the P^ c " tice of unions of the class otthe Ot-irv Union to give to the public the tacts o. their cases, but only those facts which seem to be likely to enlist for t.iem public sympathy. . When the trouble arose and the Minister was peremptorily asked to reinstate the boy dismissed, he referred the matter back to the Engineer. He also | sent Mr Furkert, a senior officer of the Department, down to the scene, with instructions to report. The Minister was travelling in the Auckland district the while, and Mr Furkert's report did not reach him as soon as it otherwise would have done. It reached him on Saturday, and as it seemed to show that there were other points at issue besides those of which the public have been told, he decided to withhold judgment until he had heard all that the men might have to say. The policy of the ITnion seems to be to blame the Minister for all that lias taken place which is not to their satisfaction.