GASWORKS MANAGER ACTS AS OWN STOKER

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28620, 24 June 1958, Page 12

GASWORKS MANAGER ACTS AS OWN STOKER

Frequent failures' of the gas supply in Lyttelton in the last few days resulted in the Lyttelton Borough Council deciding last evening to increase the gasworks staff.

The unsatisfactory supply of gas to its factory was the subject, of a complaint received from Lichfield (New Zealand), Ltd. The firm had been assured by the council in March that ample supplies would be available, said the letter, but such had not been the case. On occasions the factory had been forced to work short time, which was uneconomic; and the firm did not feel encouraged to continue production in Lyttelton, let alone consider any expansion. He was in absolute sympathy with the gasworks manager, said the Mayor (Mr F. G. Briggs). The manager got no support from his staff. “I am fed up to the teeth with these complaints,” he said. “My telephone has being ringing continuously. . . . People’s meals being spoiled, mothers unable to heat bottles for their babies, meals in my own house delayed or spoiled. Our manager has been forced to stoke from eight to 10 hours a day, as well

as carry out the duties of manager.

Complaints were coming in from all over the town, said Cr. F. Barrett. The manager was not getting a fair deal from the men and as a result the public was suffering. Cr. A. M. Miller: If it is staff trouble, then we should take a stand and stop it. We should put a pistol to their heads for a change. Until recently, the stokers had put in 15 retorts a shift, said Cr. Barrett. Now they refused to put in more than 12 retorts a shift. Unfortunately, one man had to go off sick during the week-end. A resolution was carried authorising the gasworks committee to take immediate steps to increase the staff.