TROUBLE THREATENS TO BE SERIOUS. CAUSE NOT CLEAR.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 25, 31 January 1911, Page 2

TROUBLE THREATENS TO BE SERIOUS. CAUSE NOT CLEAR.

ABOUT 150 MEN AFFECTED. [B£ TKLEGaAPH — SPECIAL TO THE POST.] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The trouble at the Otira tunnel works threatens to be serious. It started yesterday (Monday). The men on the four o'clock shift refused' to work until tho men on the day-shift came out, as had. been arranged afc a meeting on Sunday night. The cause of the trouble is not clear. Notice was posted up to the effect that the work would continue up to midnight on Saturdays, and start at midnight on Sundays. The men would not accept the idea of coming off at 11 p.m. on Saturday and starting at 1 a.m. on Monday, as usual. Yesterday morning a deputation, including Mr. Armstrong organising secretary of the West Coast Work■ers' Union, waited on Mr. M'Lean, but as Mr. Armstrong is not an employee of the . firm Mr. M'Lean refused to receive the deputation, saying that if the employees had a grievance he would be pleased, to meet them and discuss the matter, but would not recognise Mr. Armstiong. j Mr. Armstrong, interviewed, waß retii cent, merely stating that Mr. M'Lean had refused to recognise him or his organisation. Asked what the men's demands were, he stated that until Mr. M'Lean met a deputation they could do nothing. He wanted it firmly impressed 6n- the public mind that this was not a strike. The men, on being asked what the trouble was, did not seem quite dear on the subject. Some said it was over wet tima, and others that it wa* for double time on Sundays. On the whistle blowing at ten minutes to four o* clock the men hung about, undecided, awaiting the result of discussion. At four o'clock, as the men did not get into the trucks to proceed to work, a motor was sent in to bring the day shift out. On their coming out, a mass meeting was held in the tunnel hall. Mr. M'Lean attended, and again stated, that he would meet the employees, but would not have outside interference. The trouble is affecting about 150 men in the tunnel, and if it continues will affect all outside work in the course of a few days. The Bealey end of the tunnel has not been affected yet.