WELLINGTON GAS SUPPLY.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13929, 10 July 1917, Page 8

WELLINGTON GAS SUPPLY.

•:■■' '■?•-■':••■ ■■■■>■..-■ ■■■■*■■.-;■ ;■■;;:•.:■■.. ■ ....:.■• •.■-',■■■■ , J,., -■./;>-■■ ■.:=.:■■■ DIFFICULTY'WITH COMPANY'S V,v v. EMPLbYEES. ; ■economies necessary: the trouble spreading. . (Por Pross Association.) .'■" WELLINGTON, July !). ; The trouble with the Wellington Gas Company's retort house employees continues; The company has decided' to cut off nil supplies of gas at six o'clock in the morning, this course being adopted as one likely to cause the least dislocation of industry. It is realised this will cause some inconvenience, particularly in the matter of domestic and public lighting, but the only alternative to this inconvenience is the dislocation of industry by. cutting off gas supplies in the day time, thus throwing out of employment those .engaged in woiks and distributing industries dependent for power upon gas engines. The need for the step is that though the men who left, in accordance with notice, yesterday morning, have been replaced by some thirty other employees, the latter are new to the work, and for a while will be unable to keep the production up to full pressure. The new men are working under skilled direction, and are reported to be shaping well. They find no difficulty iii working in the heat, which was one of the principal grounds of complaint put forward by the old staff. Gradually the men at present working will be replaced by others from outside. The management slated fd-day that a number of applications had been received, anil as soon as possible the men would be organised into permanent shifts. The men who left work yesterday complain that the defective' roof made conditions bad, especially for (Ireeleaners; they also state that a fan to carry oil fumes which was promised a year ago,' has not yet been installed. The company explains that a portion of the .roof was removed for ventilation purposes in the summer, and repairs would be effected immediately. The fan would be put in as soon as possible. Extra assistance had been provided in connection with tire-clearing, but this is not what the men wanted. They wished to do the work, and could do it, but desired extra pay, Further development of the !rouble is reported. It is understood that a coalladen steamer at the Miramar wharf, at which supplies for the gas works aro usually landed, is unable to discharge owing to labour troubles.