THE OTIRA FARCE.

Free Lance, Volume XVII, Issue 924, 28 March 1918, Page 6

THE OTIRA FARCE.

Am Outspoken Minister. rflHB Minister for Public Works, Sir -*- William. Eraser, is to be warmly congratulated upon the courteous but none the less firm and decided tone of his reply to the Otira. Tunnel Workers' delegates last Friday. Sir William Fraser made no bones about declaring his opinion, an opinion which will be shared by the public, that the strike at Otira is nothing less than a grotesque farce, so far as its raison d'etre is concerned. For a body of men, engaged upon a public work of high importance, to "down tools"—and keep them down—-simply because a young man was dismissed for refusing to obey the very reasonable orders of the engineer in charge is simply monstrous. The youth was well paid, but the work upon which he was engaged was, it was found, insufficient to occupy him more than so many days ' in the week. On the remaining' days this ingenious young gentleman declined to work, because, apparently, the-work allotted to him "wasn't his job!" But he did not object to drawing pay for the work he did not perform, and because, very naturally, the authorities at the Tunnel failed to see the fun of paying so much for nothing, the whole of the workers forthwith go out on strike. Sir William Fraser treated the delegates to some "straight talk," but what the Tunnellers' Union will say or do remains to be seen. One thing we should like to see the Public Works Department do in connection with this and similar strikes which may occur from time to time, and that is to take steps to prevent any of the strikers from being again employed on public works, wherever in the Dominion they may be carried on. What is wanted in this country is the • introduction of the workman's livret, or "reference book" system, which has for many years been in operation in France. Practically it is equivalent to the sailor's discharge. It' might not be found practical to. introduce the livret system in connection with privately employed labour in this country, but the Public Works Department might adopt it with signal advantage. Men who defy the authorities in charge of public works in one district, and on the flimsiest, most unjust grounds, should be prevented from securing employment on public works in other districts. & O 9 flt Many of these pernickety, cantankerous men at Otira are, as are many of the workers at the State Coal Mines on the .Coast, Australians or aliens.

They are never satisfied unless they are causing trouble and expense to the State, and the Dominion would be the better off for their departure to other countries. Sooner or later there must come a distinct trial of strength between the forces of Law and Order and veiled Anarchy on the West Coast, and the sooner it comes the better.