TAWA FLAT TUNNEL

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1927, Page 4

TAWA FLAT TUNNEL

MBS CEASK WOUK. fßy Telegraph—Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Bee. 14. A hitch in the work of driving the new tunnel irom the Town Flat railwav deviation has occurred, and the work is stopped. The tunnelling was being done by contract, -Messrs . Burnside and M . B. Matthews being the contractors, who employ 36 men. The work was commenced on September 19 and the conditions of employment and wages were to be under the agreement between the New Zealand Workers’ Union and the Public AVorks Department, drawn up to cover all such undertakings. However, the wages paid were bigger, being 18s for shovellers, £1 for machine men, 23s to 25s for the shift boss, for seven and a-half hours’ work. The men hist week, it is reported, demanded increases to a minimum wage of 25s for all underground workers, and 18s for outside labour, and award rates for tradesmen.

The contractors then proposed to adopt the conditions of the Public AVorks Department agreement, but with wages the same as were being paid before, and with certain alteiations in the conditions.

A conference was asked tor by- the men, hut owing to the contractors themselves being engaged night and dav on the work, a conference could not ho arranged immediately. A conference was arranged for next Sunday or Monday. Six of the men whom it was considered were not giving satisfaction were paid off, and in consequence a stop work meeting was held tins afteinonn. It was then announced that the men would not resume work until the conference had lieen held. The contractors do not wish for a con fere-ice earlier than was agreed on and at present the matter stands there.