LAKE COLERIDGE WORKS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14473, 30 September 1912, Page 4

LAKE COLERIDGE WORKS.

THE PRESENT STRIKE.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS,

Regarding the strike of the tunnel men at the Lake Coleridge Works, our correspondent writes, under date of Friday:—Mr Mc Williams, senior, contractor for the tunnel, arrived on Wednesday afternoon at the works. A meeting of tho strikers was then held, and Mr H. Campbell, organiser of the Federated Labourers' Union, Canterbury Centre, addressed thorn, and a deputation was appointed, consisting of Mr H. Campbell and Mr Mamuel, secretary of the Lake Coleridge Branch, to represent the men. They waited upon Mr McWilliams and presented seven resolutions, to which icplies were made as follows:— 1. That Engine-driver Rankin shall be reinstated.—Yes.

2. That all workmen shall be paid time and a half for overtime and doubla time for Sunday work. —Yes.

3. That ladders shall b© immediately placed in the shafts. —Yes.

4. Tliat bathrooms and change rooms shall be immediately finished.—Ye*.

o. That the two carpenters shall be immediately dismissed. —He could not dismiss them, as they were working tinder an award of the Arbitration Court,

G. That all the employees out on strike shall be put back to their formet employment.—Yes.

7. That tho contractor shall recognise the Lake Coleridge branch of th<> Canterbury General Labourers' Union in all matters in dispute.—Yes. At 4 p.m. an adjourned meeting of strikers was held to hear the report of the deputation. Mr Campbell state-1 that Mr Mc Williams had agreed to resolutions 1, 2, 3, 4, G, and 7, but could not dismiss the carpenters, as they were giving satisfaction, and lie wns bound to keep them while they satisfied him. A voto was then taken, and it was unanimously decided that the two car penters would have to go l>efore nr.en would again start work. As the vote meant that the strike was to be continued, Mr Campbell intimated that he would stop to see the matter through. He advised the men in no way to molest or interfere w'th anybody or anything on the works. As far as any rowdyism that had occurred, he said it must have been a bit of a lark among some individual men, as he and the Union Executive had had no complaint' made to them. Tho deputation again -waited upon Mr McWilliams to state tho result of the meeting, and said that tlie men were unanimous that the two carpenters mu-Jt go; Mr McWilliams declined to dismiss them, so the strike still coii-' tunics. Mr McWilliams says ho mentioned tho assault to the deputation at tho interview.

A mect'ns of strikers has been arranged for Saturday afternoon and again on Sunday. Most of the men are now "baching," and are getting in a good stock of stores. They say that if MMcWili'ams attempts to put them oui of tho huts they are going to sit firm and stand a siege. Somo of the men who went away at the beginning have returned.

Threo more constables* arrived-.'-on Friday night to relievo the two troopers, but all is quiet and orderly. An engine-driver came from town yesterday and is working at the intake shaft pumping out tho water from tlrWorks. Three police are standing with him. Two carpenters arc working at tho middle shaft and one labourer. The. carpenters rocr>ivrd word from their union that they were to keep on working, as they' wore protected by -the Arbitration Award, and on no account to touch any work except that of carpentry.