MAIN TRUNK CONSTRUCTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8104, 8 May 1906, Page 2

MAIN TRUNK CONSTRUCTION.

THE NAVVIES' GRIEVANCES. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. Palhesstos North, May 7. Owing to orders having come fromheadquarters tliat some of the navvies on the section of the Main Trunk railway, who have been on day wages,'are to revert to the J co-operative system, between forty and fifty men havu left the works during the last five weeks. They have been earning oni.v, through the weather, an average of 4s 2d per day. Experieuoed men object to bo put in gangs with novices. The men also point out that they have to pay 40 to 50 per cent, more for necessaries than town workors,

The principal storekeepers have also gone on strike, and refuse stores to navvies without the cash. The Government will either have to stop the works or provide stores. The men are demanding:

1. Day labor, with an increased pay for night work; 2.—The establishment of a Government store, or the guaranteeing of a storekeeper to supply goods at a reduced rato on prices now being paid by the mon;

3,—The complete separation o{ the inexperienced worker from the experienced navvy, and the organising of spocial gangs f w men physically incapable of performing equal work with the stalwart and experienced navvy.

It is pointed out that unless those reforms arc spuedily carried out the works will experience a serious set back this winter.