WORK AND WAGES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 67, 6 August 1912, Page 5

WORK AND WAGES.

'TROUBLE AT LAKE COLERIDGE. By Telegraph—"Press Association. Christchuveh, East Night. Trouble lias arisen among the men employed at Lake Coleridge over the way they are 'being treated by .the contractor. whom they allege will not employ anyone who does not board at the boarding house he himself controls, the food at which they condemn. 'They also allege that sometimes they are lowered down a shaft 200 feet deep to their work by nneertifioated engine-drivers, the bolter of the engine being worn out and absolutely unsafe, and, that their lives are continuously in danger. They have addressed a letter on the matter to the Minister for Public Works.

RAILWAY LABORERS AND MINISTER. | Invercargill, Last Night. ! Some ■weeks ago the Southland Dis- ] trict Labor Council wrote to the Minister for Railways, alleging that several married men had been dismissed from the maintenance branch of railways, and contending that they should have re- ! ceived preference over single men, whose 1 services were retained. At a meeting of the Lalbor Council on. Saturday night a | letter from the Hon. W. H. Herries was { read. He stated that one of the conditions governing the agreement between the 'Department and the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants was that , the Department shall recognise no other union or body in connection with matters appertaining to the men in railway j employment. In these circumstances he ■ regretted that he could not discuss the question with the Council. If the men referred to were not members of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants they should represent their grievance through itheir foreman. The Council objected to the Minister's attitude, and decided to publish the letter. I ,