TUNNEL DISPUTE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1042, 3 February 1911, Page 5

TUNNEL DISPUTE.

COMPROMISE ARRIVED AT. RESUMPTION OF WORK IN VIEY?V UNION TO BE RECOGNISED,..,-r (By Telesrraph-Prcss Association.) Christchurch, February 2. : In connection with the Arthur's Pass tunnel labour dispute, a conference was held last night between Mr. M'Leau and several union ' officials, those, present being Mr. Semple (organiser of tho NewZealand Federation of Labour), Mr. Webb (president cf tho federation), Mr. Arm-. strong (secretary of the West Coast Oeiieral Labourers* Union), and Mr. Prince (local secretary of the union). The conference, which was. a private one, was held at Mr. M'Lcan's houso, and lasted for about three hour?. The unionists are very hopeful of a settle--meat being arrived at. Chris'church, February 2. ■-• To-day has been one o£ negotiation forthe settlement of the dispute. Mr. Neil il'Lean, who has been in charge of Hie work at the Bealey end, arrived at Otira this morning, -and later on with > Mr. Murdoch MXean he had a two-' hours' private conference with Mr. Seniple, organiser o£ the New Zealand Federation of Labour. The result of the conference was not made public, but from what was let. fall by the parties,' one could.' hot feel sanguine as to the prospects of an immediate settlement. The contractors were very indignant at .' the way in which tho men had left their work at the Uealey end, -.yherc it , .was' , , very desirable that some lining shonldj be completed to prevent a collanse ia' ■tho tunnel. They pointed out further' that they had no guarantee that fho same course would not bo taken by tho men ini the future, especially as an assurance had beeir given at the settlement of the previous dispute that there'would be no \ further; trouble in the tunnel. The attitude adopted by Mr. Semple . was that the union must bo recognised by the contractors, 'and also its right to employ its secretarj' to state the men's grievances admitted. He stated that none of tho grievances were of such a serious nature that the men would have struck. without first negotiating fot redress. '■

iTha upshot of the conference was • that another was arranged to .ba hold in the afternoon, when the local union would be represented. The third conference was ■ held .iu the men's hall near the tunnel and it lasted for nearly three hour*. The result was a-t compromise on the principal, point -.'.at" issue, viz., the recognition of the union. Ths contractors stipulated that when a, dispute arose tho matters .should be.first laid before them by the men. lathe event, of the men being dissatisfied with tho decision arrived at they would Wve ; the right to call in their iimon and its officials, who would bo recognised by the contractors. In regard' fo the men's grievances the contractors adhered to the'attitude they adopted at the outset. The Saturday night and Monday morning shifts ate to be cf seven hours each with seven hours' pay. The shifts iii ■ Vet places are to work six hours. The con- . tractors made no agreement to pay overtime rates for Sunday work, but stated; that ns in tho past as little Sunday work would be done as possible. The men will, if they accept these conditions, return to work'on practically the /old terms. . .' ■'■■■.-,■ Mr. Semple stated after the conference that ho.would advise the men to return to-work as the main point in dispute-rthe recognition of the union—had been conceded. ■_ . -' . . - ■■ At n meeting to-night the,, men accepted , the compromise and a resolution was cor-.' ried almost unanimously expressing the .. men's willingness to return to work, see-' ing that, the union .was being recognised. ' It is practically a foregone conclusion, that' the Bealey iacn will endorse' 'the | Otira resolution and that work will ba ' resumed at both' ends of the tunnel at'i i a.m'. to-morrow. . |