FEW MEN RETURN TO WORK

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 14367, 17 May 1947, Page 3

FEW MEN RETURN TO WORK

WANGANELLA REPAIRS

No Boilermakers Or Welders,

Further Tantalising Delays

(P.A.) Wellington, May IC. • Only 44 of the 210 workshop employees of William Cable and Company, Ltd., who resigned more than three weeks ago had returned to work by this afternoon. These did not include a single boilermaker or welder, without whom temporary repairs to the Wanganella cannot' be made. The poor response has caused some disappointment . among the employers, and it is understood that until a good number more of the 210 men return the tribunal will not resume to adjudicate on the dispute. Only a handful of men were to be seen at work on the Wanganella today. Most of them are waterside workers who have been transferring timber from the hold and removing obstructions which would be in the way when the ship is refloated. About a dozen boilerniakers and welders would be needed to make the repairs which are necessary before the Wanganella can be taken to the Clyde Quay wharf. With overtime the work could be done in a few days. The employers believe that if the boilerniakers and welders went back to work the ship could bo ready for testing within 4S hours.