ONAKAKA IRON

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 97, 27 April 1931, Page 7

ONAKAKA IRON

POSITION AT THE WORKS

The Golden Bay "Times and Argus"! reports that on his return from Wei- , lington Mr. J. A. Heskett, works manager for 'the Onakaka Iron and Steel Company, intimated that he v had mada arrangements to recommence the company's pipeworks, he himßelf having taken a contract to manufacture pipes, and fulfil a large Wellington order, and thus use np the accumulated stocks of / pig iron and scrap held by the com* pany. About SO men would be employed, the suggestion being to let sub» contracts in the various departments. Preliminary work in. cleaning up, etc.,| to enable these operations to be recommenced were put in hand, but action was taken by the Workers' Union,' the company's employees .not having yet received wages due to them amounting i;q over £3000. Several meetings of the union were 'held, thil outcome being the taking of steps to "" p^even£ Mr. Heskett carrying out his proposals. The union is arranging to take out liens over the company.'s mineral rights and other assots to secure the wages due. Mr. Heskett has abandoned all idea of carrying on, his proposals, and hopes-, to leave for Australia next week, and it is understood that the Wellington firm requiring thai pipes has already placed its order elsewhere. The union is endeavouring to arrange for its members to work tho pipe plant on a co-operative basis, but whether this will eventuate is still doubtful. In. the meantime the unemployment problem is a serious one for ft large number of ox-employees.