MANGAHAO STOPPAGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2391, 11 February 1922, Page 3

MANGAHAO STOPPAGE.

THE MINISTER’S ATTITUDE. The disagreement between the tunneUers at the Mangahao hydroelectric works and the Public Works Department was discussed by the Minister in the House of Representatives yesterday, in answer to a question by Mr E. Newman (Manawatu). Mr Coates said the tunnellers objected to the reduction of wages provided for in the Public Expenditure Adjustment Bill. The tunnellers had ceased work, but the outside men were going on. If the tunnellers- turned to again their case would be considered. The Leader of the Opposition: “Are you doing nothing?” Mr Coates said he was doing what lie considered right. If the men turned to their case would receive consideration, and' if not he would have to take some . other action. Some of the men were earning up to 38s per day. Mr P. Fraser (Wellington Central) wished to know whether the reduction had also taken place in the co-operative contract prices, although those prices had been definitely agreed on previously.

The Minister said the co-opera-tive contracts in the true sense were let every month. There was an adjustment one way or the other in fhe price according to the justice of the position. No reduction had been made for the month of January, as 1 in his opinion that would have been a breach of contract. The reduction in these contracts operated as from Ist February. There were other gangs of men who had contracted for a whole job. Their prices were not affected.