OTIRA TUNNEL DISPUTE.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 204, 27 August 1909, Page 3

OTIRA TUNNEL DISPUTE.

TWO HUNDRED UNE.IPLOYED. OUTSIDE WORKERS AFFECTED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) GREYMOUTH, this day. The executive officers of the Inangahua Miners' Union are writing to contradict a statement made that the men at the Bealey end of the Arthur's Pass tunnel were worked eight hours on Saturday night and on Sunday night. They also state that they had indemnified Mr. McLean for loss or damage to acetylene lamps. The men are certainlj' working, but under the old conditions, and not under the conditions that the contractors are endeavouring to enforce at the Otira end of the works. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, Thursday. The prospects of a speedy settlement of the Otira tunnel dispute are none too bright. The men are determined not to yield, and are assured of financial assistance from the unions- At the same time there is a desire to effect a settlement if possible, and some pin their faith to the offices of Mr. Halley, Conciliation Commissioner. Tho men are still occupying Mr. McLean's huts, in spite of notices to quit. No steps are being taken by the management to get the men out of the huts, and it is improbable that anything will be done until after all efforts to settle the dispute have failed. At the commencement of the trouble about 120 men were affected, but now the number has grown to nearly 200. Without the tunnel work it naturally follows that the outside work gets ahead of that inside, until the outside men work themselves out of a job, and unless some settlement is speedily arrived at, it seems as though the works must stop for a while, because all outside work will be far ahead of requirements. Local tradesmen are feeling the pinch, and trade has dropped 25 per cent. The men are on strike pay, which amounts to £ 1 per man per week for single men and 35/ per week for married men; but board costs £1, so that a single.man has nothing left to clothe himself or purchase other little necessaries.