"OUT" AT OTIRA.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1040, 1 February 1911, Page 6

"OUT" AT OTIRA.

TUNNEL AVOKKERS ON STH-lEE. SOME SPIRITED INCIDENTS;-- ■ (By Tclocraph—Press Association.) Christchurch, January* 31.' The fact that work on tho Arthur's Pass tunnel' at Otira is at a standstill ■ was prominently brought before coach passengers, tho arrival of the coach being met by a small , crowd of young men, apparently tunnel workers, who'were sporting red ties and ribbons, ono youth waving a ilaming pennant. Tho dispute appears to havo arisen unexpectedly, and it is not unusual to eomo across some of the men who, did not know what the trouble is about. The crucial point appears to be that Mr. Murdoch M'Lean was invited to discuss tho men's, grievances, but declined to do so with any but his own men. This excluded a prominent unionist, Mr. Tim Armstrong, secretary of tlie tunnel-work-ers' branch of the AVest Coast General Labourers' Union. Mr. M'Leau's refusal was resented by the union, and negotiations wero broken off and tho deaklock continues. The union has decided to hand over the disputo to the Now Zealand Fcdera- - tion of Labour, . and Mr. Semple, organiser thereof, arrives at Otira to-mor-row. The men's grievances, which do not at present cuter into the dispute, hear a speaking resemblance to those investigated by Mr. P. Hally, Conciliation Commissioner. The men held an open-air meeting this evening. The meeting was fairly orderly, but there were numerous interruptions from some. Tho chairman (Mr. W. Murphy) claimed that tho" union must stand for: the recognition of its official. . Mr. Fry, a member of the union's executive, stated tho case fully, and said that though Mr. Armstrong was not employed by Jlr. M'Lean, he was employed by tho union to transact its business. Thero was no intention to'cause- trouble,.and if Mr. M'Lean had heard the deputation the matters in dispute would probably have been settled in" a few hours. The unionists had not intended to interfere with any man who preferred to return to work, nor with the contractors' property. They intended to go about their business in a sane and sensible manner. The Socialistic tone of the speaker's further remarks on tho present social and economic conditions was resented by somo in the audience. The meeting was adjourned shortly after, the unionists being invited to attend it private meeting. No definite news has been received as to tho attitude of the men at the Bealey end* of the tunnel, but it is confidently expected by the un-. ionists that they will follow the example' of tho-Otira men. Mr. Armstrong went to Bealey to-day, and there was to be a meeting of tho men there this evening. Tho present feeling at Otira is that the. struggle will bo a keen ono, but tlw unprcrmrednoss oj the men for a long-continued .conflict is ono point against it being a lengthy one. j