TROUBLE AT THE HYDRO WORKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1922, Page 4

TROUBLE AT THE HYDRO WORKS.

Resenting the action of the New Plymouth Borough Council in dispensing with the services of two of their fellows for using unparliamentary language towards a borough official, the workmen at the hydroelectric works propose to “down tools” this evening. This action is to be deplored, for every day’s delay in completing the works means a loss of something like £6O to the borough. Yet after the way in which the council has behaved over the matter of the prosecution of the hydro workers, the contemplated extreme, action of the latter can be understood, if it cannot be condoned. The facts will be remembered. When “Pussyfoot” Johnson was in New Plymouth, three of the hydro workers were alleged to have contravened one of the multitudinous borough by-laws, and later the inspector visited the works to identify them. He accosted two men and asked if they were the culprits, whioh,

not unnaturally, they resented, and exhibited their displeasure in a rather emphatic manner. Eventually the three were run to earth, and the names secured of the other two who had been accosted. The council, on the matter being reported to it, decided to dismiss the three if convictions were registered against them, as well as the other two. In other words, the three men were to be twice punished for a trivial offence, to which they had decided to plead guilty in order to save time, but which they might otherwise have quite successfully contested. When the gross injustice of the proceeding was represented to the council by officials of the union, the council decided to reinstate the men, providing they promised, like naughty little children, not to offend again. But the council resolved to dismiss the other two who had not behaved very circumspectly towards the inspector. The whole of the workmen employed at the works evidently feel that an injustice has been done, and this is their way of registering their protest. It is a clumsy, expensive way for both parties, but we must say that the council has been in the wrong in this matter from the beginning, and has only itself to blame if the strike occurs. Had the council shown a little discretion and forbearance, the trouble would easily have been averted. A body of men such as the hydro workers are imbued in the main with a strong sense oi fairness and will play the game, if they are but properly treated by their employers. The two men no doubt thought their mates were being invidiously treated, and so, when the official came to them for information, their feelings got the better of their judgment. It was perhaps what could have been expected in the circumstances, and might well have been overlooked. The council, however, has preferred to use the big stick, with consequences which might have been foreseen. Its ill-judgment adds but another blunder to the already long list of blunders it has perpetrated. The great pity is, however, that the ratepayers have to pay, and pay heavily, for the lack of capacity and errors of judgment of the council. Even now, if the right attitude is adopted, it should be possible to reach a satisfactory conclusion of the trouble.