Gasworks Not Like A Lady’s Drawingroom

Northern Advocate, 25 February 1944, Page 5

Gasworks Not Like A Lady’s Drawingroom

(Special) AUCKLAND, This Day. A lively discussion concerning wages and conditions at the works took place at the annual meeting of the Auckland Gas Company today, following a lengthy explanation of the company’s difficulties by the chairman of directors (Mr. V. G. Larner).

Mr. T. E. Cargill said that when the works were held up before Christmas due to shortage of manpower, 150 men were sent down by the manpower authorities. Owing to shocking conditions and bad pay, the men refused to stop there. Mr. Larner: "I don’t agree with that. You cannot expect conditions at a gasworks to be like a lady's drawingroom. The company is fully alive to the problems and is doing its best to meet the needs of the men.” Mr. N. R. W. Thomson said it was surprising that complaints about conditions had only recently been voiced. Wages could be altered only by consent of the arbitration court or stabilisation commission, and it was unfair to blame the company. Mr. Cargiil alleged that at the Devonport works rats ate the workers’ lunch and soup. The chairman said there were improvements the directors would like to make and which would be made as soon as skilled labour was available. Another shareholder objected to a proposal to reward only one section of workers with a bonus of 3d. an hour. The manager (Mr. R. Worley), said that the bonus would cost the company about £IB,OOO. If ail workers were included it would involve roughly an extra £SOOO.