THE OTIRA TUNNEL

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 June 1921, Page 2

THE OTIRA TUNNEL

WORKERS’ GRIEVANCES. A deputation from the New Zealand Workers’ Union waited upon the Alini.-ter for Public Woiks at Wellington last week to lay before him certain complaints from the employees on the construction works throughout the Dominion. There were also present the Hon. G. J. Anderson (Minister for Labour) and -Mr Furkert (Engineer-in-Chief to the Public Works Department). ' Mr R. Behan (Otira) brought before the .Minister the case of a worker at Otira named George Robinson, who met with a slight accident, a cut to his knee, which he thought nothing of till the water in the tunnel poisoned it, with the result that he had been incapacitated. But the engineer /refused compensation, on the ground that the accident was not reported at the time it occurred. He produced a doctor’s certificate as io the incapacity, and stated that there had been a number of such cases, and they wanted the matter put right. There was also the old grievance as to the motormen drivers. They wanted the first grade rate, 19s, to be paid to all the motormen, and to the guards 18s a day. There were ten men concerned in all, and all were on different rates, which was very unsatisfactory, and causing the union a. lot of trouble to keep the men contented.

Mr Furkert said that the engineer was paying Is a day more to those he considered the better men. Mr Beban said that otherwise they were all very happy and contented. This was the only grievance they had. The Afinister promised to give the matter consideration. Air Beban added that with the exception of one man they had all received their holiday pay.