SAWMILL WORKERS’ DISPUTE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3649, 10 December 1920, Page 4

SAWMILL WORKERS’ DISPUTE.

BOX MILL STILL IDLE. RESULT OF SECRET BALLOT. MEN WILL NOT RESUME. (From Our Own Correspondent.) OHUTU, This day. Mr Murdock, chairman of the Egmont Box Company, arrived at. the Ohutu mill yesterday morning, and held a lengthy discussion with the men re the stoppage of work. He then asked the men to resume work in the morning, under the same conditions as j they had been working, until Monday. 1 In the meantime, he would call a spe- ' cial meeting of his directors to discuss ! the whole'position.. The men considered the question fully, and after the luncheon adjonurnment presented the following resolution: “That the men are willing to resume work in the morning on the following conditions; (1) That the employers recognise the King Country Sawmillers and Timber Workers’ Union; (2) That the employers representative agree to meet the Union’s representative and draw up a scale of wages and on a 'date not Tater than the 15th inst, for the ensuing twelve months. V

This Mr Murdock declined to do until he had held a meeting of his directors and discussed the whole position. He again appealed to the men to resume work in the mean time until Monday, 13th inst. A secret ballot was then taken by The men to ascertain their feeling a® to returning to work on Mr Murdock's suggestion. The result of the ballot was strongly against returning to work until the King Country Sawmill and Timber Workers' Union had been recognised and better conditions drawn up.