LABOUR TROUBLES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 222, 12 June 1908, Page 7

LABOUR TROUBLES.

.... ;; ....« THE BLACKWATER MINES. OBJECTION TO "PLURAL CON- ' ■ . TRACTING." I' 181 XEI.EaBArU—I'ItESS ASSOCIATION.) Reofton, June 11. / A peculiar ■ phase in strike matters has occurred at : the Blackwater mines in rogard to .what may be callcd plural contracting. One contractor having obtained four contracts from the mines, :it is alleged'at'higher prices than those ' put in by' otner.' men, the' miners, on all save the original contract, working for him resolved to ceaae work; objecting, as they say, to tho system of plural contracting'and to the compahy placing contracts at other than the lowest tenders. A union/meeting will be held on Sunday to deal with the matter. (BY TELEQBA.ni.—SPECIAL. CORRESPONDENT.) Creymouth, June 11. Interviewed by . a "Star" reporter, anont tho .' trouble at Blackwater, Mr.; Spencer (manager of the'Blackwater mines), who was- in town to-day, said that so far aa his company wero concerned they had not heard anything fresh regarding tho position which' ho thought had been somewhat exaggerated. The facts were that on Saturday last, which was pay day, he had let/three or four contracts for difforent work's, and in ono case he, had let one raise, which ho required promptly done, to a man who. hadalways proved himself a reliable man, and got good men t<) work, under him. 'Ho had given this man 30s.- a foot,- whereas an almost, total stranger had tendered at; 295. 6d. It was generally tho custom to' let the work to the lowest tenderer, but this particular piece of work was urgontly required at tho , time,, and he had ' givon the oxtra sixpence to ensure its being, done well and at once. As for any other dissatisfaction,'ho had not heard 'anything of it except a suggestion that somo had been expressed. .Ho was returning to 1 Reefton this evening, and was pleased to bo able to give his explanation, because this one caso was a special ono, and ho had acted for the best in giving tho work to a man they could trust, and who had .proved reliable on provious occasions. The conditions of tho tendering always included tho clauso: "The lowost-or any tender not necessarily accopted." .

ANOTHER STRIKE. , WANGANUI TRAMWAY-LABOURERS. [BT TEI.HQI'.AI'B.—PIiESS , ASSOCIATION.] Wanganui, June 11. Navvies omploycd oil tho .itramway construction work, which waa . only commenced on Monday, struck this morning for an incroase of from Bs. to 9s. per day, but tho hands omplbyed on other parts of tho contract remained on tho job. , Many others awaiting employment refused to accept less than 9s. Tho Wellington Trades and Labour Council discussed last night the. strike of labourers <on the Wanganui tramway construction works. A, resolution was passed approving of the men's demand for 9s. a day, and_ advising workers not to go to Wanganui until this wage was conceded.