A FIRM STAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 59, 7 September 1937, Page 12

A FIRM STAND

BRUCE BAY STRIKE

MINISTER ADAMANT ,

ULTIMATUM ISSUED

Emphasising the need for drastic steps being taken, the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) today made it clear that if the men who struck on the public works now; in course of construction at Bruce Bay, South Westland, did not- return to work they would be ordered off the job.

In outlining the developments that had taken place, the Minister said that the alleged dispute had its origin on March 12, 1936, before the present Public Works agreement was brought into operation. The men were working on the construction of the Haast aerodrome, and put down their tools, demanding an increase .in the basic rate of pay. The conditions under which they were working were those imposed on them by the old Government, and the new Government had not had time to make any necessary adjustments. On a show of hands being taken, thirteen men. who had been on the job only a day and a half, decided to go on strike, and twelve men, who had been working for some months, decided to go back to work. Later, the engineer in charge visited the job and made some adjustments in conditions, and the men worked together peacefully until the job was finished. The men, said the Minister, were then transferred to Bruce Bay, where, by reason of the new Public Works agreement, they were able to enjoy better conditions and earn higher pay. Their average earnings over the past three months had been £6 17s 3d h week, and they had been able to work 448 hours out of the possible 480. "All this time," said Mr. Semple, "they had worked with the men who had refused to strike on the Haast aerodrome job f and in point of fact had been working together for nearly twelve months. Now comes the story that the present strike had been made on a union principle. "I understand." the Minister added, "that the trouble was caused when a lorry driver said he would not cart spoil from certain of the men. The engineer told the driver that in that case he would have to find another man for his job. The strikers then threw in their lot with the lorry driver. • . "These men have no legitimate grievance of any kind," continued the Minister. "They cannot be tolerated. To work with the men for twelve months and then come to the conclusion that they have committed a. breach of a principle of unionism ,is absurd and childish. I cannot allow that sort of thing to go on. If I were to'tolerate" such a thing, or allow it to continue, I would not be worthy of my position." MINISTER'S ACTION. : On receiving word of the strike on Friday last the Minister telegraphed to Mr. D. McGee,. union secretary, at Bruce Bay, stating that the action taken was in direct conflict with the union agreement arid the Government's Public Works ; policy. "The proper course for you and the men you represent to have followed," said Mr. Semple, "was to hand your dispute over to the head office of your union and allow them to negotiate with the Public Works engineer with a view of arriving at a settlement prior to any action being taken. You have failed to do this and have struck on your own account without proper consultation or negotiation. of any sort or kind. I rang Mr. Cook this morning and he informed me that by wire he advised the men to return to work, and his advice has been ignored. He has therefore placed the matter entirely in my hands. Unless you return to work forthwith and comply with your agreement, and show some spirit of loyalty to the Government that is trying to do its best for you,: I will be compelled to take definite action." , „ The Minister received the following reply from Mr. McGee: "Cook advised on matters moriths ago. Left men to deal with scabs in what way they thought fit. Men firm and definite, will not work with scabs. Strike still on until agreement reached one way or other." Mr. Semple then replied that he regretted to learn that the men had taken up such an unreasonable stand. In the first place, he said, the men had brohen-■ the agreement as the matter was not referred to the Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works in- the constitutional manner before striking; secondly, the men had ignored the organiser's advice to'resume work. He acted on instructions from the union head office. Thirdly, the men had defied the Minister's instructions to resume duty. "I have, therefore, no other course open but to ask the men to resume work ■ forthwith," said Mr. Semple, "and failing to do so I shall instruct the district engineer at Greymouth to pay off all those who refuse to do so. I have discussed the situation with the Hon. P. C. Webb, Acting Minister of Labour, who concurs m the course I am taking. Please understand that the men who refuse to return to work will be paid off and ordered off the job, and that is my final advice."