OTIRA TUNNEL DISPUTE

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 184, 5 August 1920, Page 5

OTIRA TUNNEL DISPUTE

A GGMPROMISE OFFERED

[from our cokrespo>dent.] WELLINGTON, -Aug. 4. Delegates from the OtiraVDunnel Workers' Union interviewed the Minister for Public Works to-day on two occasions, regarding the dispute at the Bealey end, with ttie result that an amended t official proposal was made, which has a likelihood of acceptance. The delegates wero Messrs R BcVah.,W. A.rinati, And C. Grayndler. They were "accompanied by Messrs Seddon, Holland, Witty, ..Sullivan, MeCom'bs, Forbes, and Howard. The deputation expressed disapproval of Mr Dinnie, the engineer, as arbitratoi", oh the ground that he was biased, and had shown this tendency v bile in charge of a portion of tlie tunnel work, He failed to take into . consideration the iatt that some1 parts of the tumrl h;«d been driven 12 to 14 feet wido, while other parts were only 8 or' 9 feet, involving greater work to open up to the full vidth. He also failed "to allow for vorklng on a gi'ade involving - the haulage if spoil away by winch. .The Hon. J. G. Cbates asked why the men had not tried the new offer. Mr Annan replied that the men were quite prepared to do so. If a minimum wage of £1 a day was guaranteed, as was given by the Chief Engineer on the previous contract. The deputation met the Minister fcr Public Works privately in the afternoon, when the Hon; Mr Coates submitted an offer of 224s per foot, with a. guarantee of £1 per day for two months, and also a bonus of ten per cent, to workors itvho, as he put it, "see the job through' 3 and complete the tunnel without delay; if any employee has to leave through sickness or any other bona fide reason a five per cent bonus to be paid. The former offer by the engineer was 223s per foot, while, the men demanded 2555. The Minister's offer will be. submitted to the Union" by the delegates, ,vho promised to telegraph him the result.