RAILWAY STRIKE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 275, 29 November 1901, Page 2

RAILWAY STRIKE.

CO-OPERATIVE WORKERS REFUSE AMOUNT OFFERED.

Yestkuday morning a gang of fifteen laborers employed on the GisborneKaraka railway line, in ballasting work, refused to accept the amount of payment computed for the four weeks, 7s iid per working day, and throw up the work until some fresh arrangement is made. The main cause of complaint by the men is that they have to lose a good deal of time when the engine is required for other purposes. An instance is given of this in regard to the visit of the Hon. Mr Carroll. The men declare that twenty workers were kept waiting three hours while the engine was being used for the conveyance of the Minister over tho lino, but on further enquiry we learn that in that caso tho delay was not so great, as the engine was also being made use of for tho other work for part of the time. Tho men say that while timber is being convoyed they also lose time, and sometimes the gang is broken by men being sent to other work. It appears that trouble has been brewing for some time, the men not being satisfied with the return, which has sometimes been less than 7s a day. Thoy declare that they work about nine hours a day, the work being very heavy. Thoy offered to return if the wage were fixed at 8s a day, but decline to continue under that. They have so far refused to accept the amount of money offered for the past month’s work, claiming that they arc entitled to more.