SAWMILL WORKEHS' DISPUTE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3645, 4 December 1920, Page 5

SAWMILL WORKEHS' DISPUTE.

STEIKE AT OHUTU. ' BOX COMPANY'S MILL CLOSED. The stop-work meeting of the 'em..pfoyees of the Egmont Box Company's mill at Ohutu, as reported yesterday, has-eventually led up to the closing down of the works. The request which the Company was asked to accede to was that the King Country Timber Workers' Union should be recognised by the Company, and to this request no definite reply had been received, the Company's contention being that it did: not understand the position. The Union executive adopted a conciliatory attitude throughout, and strongly aavised the men to remain at work until the matter in dispute had been settled. Yesterday, a reply was reci' from the managing director of the Company stating" that Tie now understood the position, and that he would be at the works on Wednesday. A meeting of the men was called just before knock-off time to consider the reply and Mr Bennie, the Companjfs secretary was invited to explain the Company's "attitude in the matter. He appealed to the men to defer action until the managing director of the Company had arrived. The men, however, were of the opinion that the Company was well enough acquainted with the position, and had unduly protracted the negoHations. It was resolved that the'"rnen' H ci§ase work from that evening (Friday), the general opinion being that the Company was to blame for the stoppage on account of the way in which it had further delayed the matter by deferring a meeting with the men till W>edncsday. We have be,en officially informed that the men really acted on their own initiative, and that the Union executive had nothing to do with the closing down of the works, which action was taken by the men themselves on account of their exasperation at the continual deferring of the matter in dispute by the Company.