TAWA FLAT TUNNEL DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 89, 13 January 1928, Page 3

TAWA FLAT TUNNEL DISPUTE

MEN’S OFFER OF SETTLEMENT SUGGESTED TRIBUNAL TO DECIDE Dlr. A. Cook, general secretary to the New Zealand Workers’ Union, states that the replv of the contractor, Dlr. Dlatthews, to’ his abridged statement calls for a further reply. Dlr, Cook savs:—“Let me first deal with Dlr. Matthews’s statement where he states that three hundred applications for work had been received in response to an advertisement, all of which accepted the wages offering. We don’t doubt his word that be received this number of applications, but we do know that none of the men accepted work when they discovered the exact conditions of the job. ... If Mr. Dlatthews’s statement is correct, why are the works still idle? . . . Had this heading been let to a party of competent tunnelers on a co-operatve basis, there would have been no stoppage, and twice the progress would have been made. “In reference to the second question, the men’s request for the afternoon shift to be conveyed-off duty: All I have to sav to the contractors’ replv is. the men’s request was to be conveyed to a given spot, . and the question of conveying individuals to Petone or Johnsonville was never mentioned. . . “Finally, the question of safety. Dlr Dlatthews’s replv is too weak for comment; still, he’does admit the approach of No. 1 heading on the Hutt Road is unsafe. I sav it is more than unsafe; it is positively dangerous, and there will be no further work done in this head until it is made safe. “Regarding Dlr. Burnside’s fifteenth tunnel in New Zealand,” continues Dlr. Cook, “this is the most amusing statement made by Dlr. Dlatthews. With the exception of short. drives, there are only seven tunnels in NewZealand. The Men’s Offer. “In conclusion, the men’s case is so strong, and their claims so just, they make the following offer for a settlement They are prepared to submit the dispute to a tribunal and to abide by its decision, the tribunal to consist of two officers from the Wellington labour movement appointed by the men, two officers from the Employers’ Federation appointed bv the contractors, with a chairman from the Labour Department Two representatives from the workers to state their case, the Contractors to do likewise on behalf of themselves. The men will guarantee to abide bv the tribunal’s decision and start work immediately it is given. If this proposal is not taken advantage of, then we would like to know why.’’