WORK RESUMED

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 69, 23 March 1931, Page 10

WORK RESUMED

THE CAMPANILE JOB

FOUR-DAY MEN START

EEPLY TO STATEMENTS

Work was resumed . to-day on. the Campanile foundations .by 16 men out of the shift of 36' four-day; men'; (with three dependants or more) who were scheduled by the Labour Department to work on this job from to-day until Thursday. ~Twenty, of the .men failed to turn out,' doubtless fearing the jibes and'comments: of the pickets, who were early cm the job.' Half a'dozen police--1 men, however, prevented' any- more'/.active interference , with . the' workers. .:' Two more men.turned'out to work at 1 p.m., making the strength of the working party 18. The police held a strategic position on .the only path leading to the..job,: and- though animated discussions . were: in progress amongst a crowd of some fifty lookers-on,,who remained . in Buckle street, 'nothing further, eventuated. ■ , ' ' ■ .■,•;.. ■._ In reply to the/Mayor's statement of "the1 position in regard to the'work., on.the Campanile excavations, Mr. P. M; Butler, secretary-of the. .General Labourers ' Union, 'i quotes ; Mr; Troup:as stating:—" ; . .It ,will be seen that the', excavations, of: .the.. Campanile, which were included in: the contract,, is a very small part of the. work that will be. done on the Mount. Cook site. Vf The Mayor, he says;.whilst putting forward reasons: why the work should be done by relief labour,; makes it.clear that the; work is an ordinary, standard work, and in, consequence,' it .is Contended. By .fc Butler., that the. award should applyMrlßennett says v.cry.definitely/"The earthwork never formed part of v; the contract.'' ".: It ( isV : obvious, says Mr. Butler, that the ■■'two;; statements do not coincide. He maintains' that the work, is ordinary contract work, and that the^ provisions of the .award should be' recognised, and; that ■-'fair, representations have .been.'1' made , by'ithe men. to have the-.misunderstandings rectified. r ■;,'■■,■ \ i • UThe difficulties in ; the,.way can be imagined," he concludes, '. ''when it is considered that;(l) the City Council einploys/the,'men;;,(2) 'the Unemploy: rhent Board: pays.Jthemi and (3) they work for the! trustees of; the National Art Gallery. We appealed to. the Miriister *of' Labour,,-. : the ; > Unemployment Board, arid' the: Local 'Unemployment Committee for relief, with very little result, and, further,' the;.trustees : of the Art■■■ Gallery;.;'were \made> aware of our representations,' which were communi-i cated tolthein per medium of, the.Local Committee and the Town .Clerk. It was not until the !men were convinced that matters':-were 'being, allowed : to slide that they; in' : desperation, decided not to work.. The ■ dispute can be; settled in ten mintites, if Ithe various authorities can! agree..amongst■ themselves' which: ; is responsible.";";;' ;:! ; ;':;;