GAS WORKERS STOP

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3131, 9 July 1917, Page 6

GAS WORKERS STOP

THE TROUBLE AT MIRAMAR

COMPANY'S GANGS OPERATING RETORTS. Since yesterday morning the retorthouse of the Wellington Gas Company's "works at Mirainar has been kept in operation by three squads of workers from the company's own staff. The letort-house employees, following up the notices they had given the company a fortnight earlier, left their work at 6 a.m., yesterday. If the company had not been able to replace them, the city ■would have been short of gas this evening, but as it is things are reported to have .jfone smodtljly yesterday, and it is hoped to keep them going to-day. The company, had-no difficulty in getting workers from other departments, including the head office and tho fittingshop to carry on the work of the retorthouse. Thirty men offered their services, and they were divided into shifts. They • worked yesterday and last night undor tho direction of experienced men. ' The output for the day is understood to have been little short .of normal.

Some of the new workers found that unaccustomed work fairly trying, but thoy all stuck to it dotermihedly. The old hands complained of the heat they .■were subjected to on the top of the retorts, but" the new men say that they felt no particular, discomfort in this connection. Officials of the Gas Company stated- aftpr a day's experience of tho new shifts that thoy had no doubt tho supply of gas could "be maintained until the places of the men who had left the service had been filled. Tho work demanded practice, which could not be acquired in a few hours, but it was not highly skilled. The men who have left work insist that they have not "struck:" They have Bimply ieft their employment in pursuance of notice. This point may be debated legally. The Government has already declared gas production an "essential industry" under the War lfeBulations, and any interference with the maintenance of the industry becomes, therefore, an offence .of a serious cbaraoter.. . ; '

The Gas Company, while doing its utmost to maintain the city's supply for lightins, heating, and power ■ purposes, cannot "guarantee the supply -under existing conditions. Consumers are requested to use. the gas economically,' and to seo that they do not" expose themselves to danger by leaving lights, gas-fires, etc., untended. The gas might be turned off, and open taps would then become possible causes "of accident when tho (supply was resumed.