THE OTIRA TUNNEL WORKMEN.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14326, 11 April 1912, Page 3

THE OTIRA TUNNEL WORKMEN.

THREATS TO HOLD IP THK AAORK.

(srW'I.M. TO "TilF. riiKss",. GREYMOUTH, April 10Since his arrival at Greymouth tho Minister of Mines (the Hon. J. Colvin) has been besieged with deputations on nil manlier ol subjects, but Mr Colvin is pur-iiing the policy of promising nothing till he receives reports from his officer-., as he is new to office and must make himself thoroughly conversant with the various questions before committing himself.

Affairs at the Otira tunnel formed the subject of ono deputation. Mr T. H. Armstrong said that the West Coast General Lalxiurers' Union had recently tried to come to terms with the contractors with reference to the lioura and conditions of labour, they bad tried to bring tho tunnel works under the provisions of the.Mining Act. At the present time there were no proper inspectors. To work the tunnel under the provisions of the Quarries Act was ridiculous in the extreme. The men should work eight hours from bank to bank. The conditions'at Otira were worse than in any mine in New Zealand.

The Minister said that be could not hold out any hopo of the men getting what they wished. In the present state of political parties, it would be madness to try to get such a measure through the House. Ho was in favour of the bank to bank clause, and had always supported it; in fact he was the one who had got it passed. . Mr Armstrong said it was argued against the proposal that as the work was being done by contract, it was impossible to alter the conditions now. The Government were already giving the contractor a subsidy; why, then, could they not put the works under the Mining Act, and give the contractor a subsidy to recoup him for any loss? The contract would expire iv two months.

Mr Blow explained that the contract did not expire until the work was completed. Penalties would bo -imposed for uoii-conipletion within the fc tinie specified. ■Mr Armstrong said that the Union or the Federation would not allow the work to go on under the present conditions. They wished to bring the matter once more under the notice of the Government before resorting to the methods of the "brutal strike." They were, however, determined to hold the work up until they got what they wanted.

-Another deputation broadly hinted that the coal miners were about to inaugurate an agitation for a daily minimum wage of 12s. Mr Colvin: 1 will look into the mat-

As a result of last night's meeting of the Blackball Coal Miners'- Union, the dispute with the Company has been referred to the Federation of Labour.