STRIKE AT ARAPUNI

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 69, 13 June 1927, Page 9

STRIKE AT ARAPUNI

Overtime Dispute Leads To Stoppage of All Work RESUMPTION BEFORE CONFERENCE A DISPUTE over the payment of overtime led to a general “ strike at the Arapuni hydro-electric works. The Arm-strong-Whitworth Company’s representative demands resumption of work before granting a conference.

Press Association. TE AWAMUTU, To-day. ALL workmen engaged at the Arapuni hydro-electrical works declared a general strike starting at midnight on Sunday. The dispute arises out of payment for overtime. It is stated that the employers should pay double rates for all overtime in excess of four hours, and neglect to do so gives rise to the present dispute. A mass meeting of men, held yesterday, reached the decision to declare a general strike from midnight. This morning, Mr. J. Kelly, president, and Mr. E. Lake, secretary of the union, went to hold a conference with Armstrong-Whitworth’s representatives, but a conference was. refused by the company, who stipulate that the men must return to work before any consideration was possible. Mr. Handman, the company’s manager at Arapuni, is at present in Auckland. Meanwhile all work is at a standstill. “ONLY ONE THING TO DO 5 ’ UNSKILLED WILL OFFER! UNION SECRETARY’S VIEW he is anxious for a settlement, Mr. Gavin Stove, Auckland branch secretary for the Alliance of Labour, says; “When it comes to a question of overtime there is only one thing to do!” Should a settlement not be reached this afternoon Mr. Stove declared that the company would probably not have a great deal of difficulty in replacing the men on strike. “But it must be recognised that the men on strike are in the main skilled workers. In many instances they are experienced rock-miners and have been engaged in this particular work at Arapuni for the past four years,” he added. “What would then be the position if unskilled men were taken on in their place?” He indicated that about 600 men would be affected if the strike were continued. Auckland Labour authorities would advise workers, said Mr. Stove, that

Arapuni was “black,” and not to go there. But he believed, as unemployment was general that this excuse would probably be given in the event of these unskilled labourers taking the places of the men on strike. The men at Arapuni, said the secretary, were working on an agreement with Armstrong, Whitworths’, which was outside the scope of the Arbitration Court. He was not altogether surprised at the turn events had taken, as there had been some difficulty in the past in keeping the company strictly to the terms of the agreement. Despite the fact that Armstrong, Whitworths’ were referred to as “hard people to deal with,” Mr. Stove was inclined to believe that everp effort would be made to obtain a settlement, for the simple reason that Arapuni was so far behind completion that no extra delays were desired if it was at all possible to avoid it. NO INFORMATION FIRM’S AUCKLAND BRANCH No information concerning the strike had been received up till this afternoon by the Auckland office of the contractors, Sir W. G. Armstrong, Whitworth, Ltd. Mr. A. Mills, the Auckland representative, said the news came as a complete surprise to him. He had heard no hint of labour troubles. Mr. Mills stated that Mr. A. Whitley, head of the concern in New Zealand, was in Auckland last night. As far as he knew Mr. Whitley was ignoraant of any threat of trouble. It was probable, now, that he would proceed to Arapuni at once. Discussing the labour situation generally, Mi'. Mills said that up till a couple of months ago there had been a constant stream of applicants for employment at Arapuni. So great had been the flood of that at the Auckland office they had had to post a notice stating that men could not be interviewed, and directing them to apply at the job. Since then there had not been nearly so many inquiries. The inference was that there would be plenty of men available if the men now striking declined to resume work, but it would, of course, take time to get them on the job.

Mr. Mills further stated that Colonel Greenhough, who had formerly been directing operations in New Zealand, was now in London.