AUCKLAND GAS STRIKE

Grey River Argus, 17 March 1945, Page 5

AUCKLAND GAS STRIKE

Restaurants and Hotels Affected AUCKLAND, March 16. The retort workers on strike at Auckland gas works remained out this morning. This afternoon the position there was unchanged. A major development this morning was the decision of the whole staff at Devonport works to stop work at 8 o’clock. As required by law, one man was left on to attend the boilers. The holders at Devonport are reasonably full, and it is hoped a restricted meal time gas service will be available to-day, but the outlook for to-morrow is obscure. Concerned with the effect of the stoppage on people with young families, a group of women who are beyond the age of work direction, to-day offered their services to the gas company. They were informed that theii* generous offer could not be taken advantage of. In some city restaurants to-day customers were unable to obtain tea or coffee. Only milk and soft drinks were obtainable. Mr F. E. May, Chairman of the Auckland Provincial Restaurant Proprietors’ Association, said that tjie fact that the men stopped work without warning had resulted in loss of certain foods prepared for cooking to-day. Most hotels to-day are operating under restricted menus. A few of them have resorted to open fires. The public hospitals are not greatly inconvenienced, as most of their cooking is done by steam from the hospital boilers. Strike Ended DIRECTED WORKERS TO HAVE APPEALS HEARD P.A. AUCKLAND, March 16 The retort house workers at the Auckland Gas Works who declared a strike on Thursday, resumed this afternoon. It is hoped by the management that it would be possible to provide a modified gas service to enable people to prepare their breakfasts to-morrow. A restricted service will operate for the rest of the week end, and the position will be reviewed on Sunday night. It is not likely that there will be a gas supply for industries on Monday. The decision to resume work - was reached after meetings of, and negotiations with the National Service Department regarding the directions of the two retort house workers to other industries. These men will not now 1 be required to comply with the directions before their appeals against the directions are dealt with.