49

L—l 4.

T. KENNEDY

59. Did they get that extra wage when the bonuses were done away with? —We got a slight increase. 60. That is since you have been there, is it not?— Yes. 61. With regard to sanitary arrangements, I suppose the men realize that in such a tunnel, with work like that going on, it is impossible to have any fixed conveniences 2 —Sanitary arrangements would perhaps be in the road in some cases. 62. You have never really thought the matter out beyond this : that you felt the sanitary arrangements in force were not satisfactory, and you did not exactly know how they could be improved ?—No. 63. Mr. Davey.] Your union is affiliated to the Federation of Labour, is it not? —Yes. 64. You stated just now that you could not get redress from the contractors? —No, we have not been able to succeed 65. You also stated that Mr. Gavin was satisfying the men in judging what a wet place was. You are fairly satisfied with his decisions? —Yes, he has been very fair to us. 66. Then, what is the real cause that affects the men —is it really the bank-to-bank clause? —We want the bank-to-bank clause, the increase in wages we asked for, and to be paid for short shifts on Saturday and Sunday night. 67. Have you intimated to the contractors at all that if you do not get those concessions you will go out? —No, we have not intimated that to the contractors, but it is all I can see left for it : that is all the Federation Executive see left for it. 68. 1 see that you were interviewed in Christchurch. Is the report in the Lyttelton Times of what you said a correct report?— All of it is not correct; it is not exactly to the letter. 69. You are reported as having said, " Some time ago we placed our demands before the contractors for the tunnel, just after we cancelled our registration with the Arbitration Court, but we were not met, and we got nothing." Is that true? —It is not quite true; we got a slight increase. 70. Then it goes on, " We did not want to go out then, because the men out at Reefton, Kaitangata, and Waihi made a big drain on our fellows; and so, although the Federation offered to support us, we decided to wait. But as soon as the men at Reefton and Kaitangata resume we will come out." Is that a correct transcript of what you told the reporter?— When they are finished I dare say we shall approach Mr. McLean again with the same demands, and if we do not get any more granted I should think we will strike, because there is a general feeling there that we should —in fact, we have been on the verge of striking on two or three different occasions. The men are absolutely disgusted with the conditions. We think that what we ask Mr. McLean for is only fair and just, and we are not satisfied at all. 71. You go on to state, according to this report, " Work at both ends of the tunnel will be stopped, and we do not care for any employer or any Government, we will not continue working under our present conditions. We have made fair demands, and we can get no redress." Is that a fair report of what you said ?—Yes, that is about correct. 72. Do you not think, under the circumstances, knowing you were coming here to give evidence, it would have been better not to have made these remarks to the newspaper reporter ? Would it not have been better for the union to have made its application to Mr. McLean, rather than for you to make this statement in a newspaper?—We have already made application to Mr. McLean. 73. But you stated that you would make a further one? —Perhaps I was indiscreet in saying what I did, but the position is this : As far as I am concerned, and the rest of the men there, we have nothing to fear; we are not particular who knows the facts of the case. Outsiders do not know the facts. 74. What amount would you say it would cost the workers for oilskins, say, in wet places?— I can only speak from my own personal experience, and it has cost me £8 in the time I have been there —since the 13th January. 75. Do the men find it very cold working in the tunnel?— Yes, especially if you get wet through. 76. Would the men be so cold that they would be unable to hold a pencil when they came out of the tunnel? —That was one particular case —that was the time they struck. They asked for four hours. 77. The water was so cold? —Yes. 78. Wa-J that reported to the engineer or the contractors? Was any privilege asked for the workers under those conditions? —Yes, they asked for four hours, and they were refused. 79. Four-hour shifts?— Yes. 80. Would a four-hour shift, under those circumstances, constitute a day's work? —Yes, that is what we asked, I believe. I was not secretary at that time. 81. Mr. Seddon.] Did you seek this interview with the Lyttelton Times reporter?—No, I did not. 82. How did it come about?—A man came to the Queen's Hotel and asked for me. 83. Was he a reporter?—l did not know what he was. 84. Did you just talk on like that, and he take it down?—He asked me about Otira, and I told him what I knew. 85. You did not realize the responsibility attached to what you were saying when you were talking to the Pressman?—No; and for that matter I am not particular whether I did realize it or not. Ido not care whether the Press knows it or not. 86. What about the statement that the men were coming out: did you make that statement on the authority of the union, or was that your own statement?— That is my own view. That is all I can see left for it. 87. You just gave that as your opinion?— Yes, that is all I can see left for it.