GAS WORKS DISPUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 June 1921, Page 5

GAS WORKS DISPUTE.

NEW LABOR REPLACES STRIKERS, WORKS DEOJaARED “BLACK”' By Telegraph.—Pres* AssoclaUoe. Wellington, Last Night. As a insult of the dispute bctwe&d the Petone gas works employee*' ana the Borough Council the gas works wer«| to-day declared “black.” Work is ing carried on in the stoke house ibjr new men engaged working under the die* rect supervision of the manager. The full make of gas is not beinaJ maintained and connections are cut on! for a portion of the day. Thia has caused considerable inconvenience tq business people, several of whom ar< changing their plants from gas to oiL The council hopes within a week, when the new stqkers will have learnt their jobs, that a full pressure of gas will be available. The discharged stokers are picketing the works but are not interfering with the men employed. Tho yardmen ar< also out in sympathy. Future developments are awaited with interest. Now that the works have been declared “black” the action of the carters is being discussed. The carters are expected, to refuse to cart coal, but the employer* say they cannot afford to lose work and if the present employees decline to cart coal* they will engage others. Wellington, June 17. In connection with the trouble at the Petone Gas Works the secretary of the Gas Workers’ Union has asked the Minister of Labor to intervene and act in the capacity of independent chairman at a meeting between the Petone Borough Council and the union, in order to try to adjust the difficulty. It is understood the Minister is willing to accede to the suggestion if the council is willing..