NORTH ISLAND TRUNK LINE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13171, 8 May 1906, Page 5

NORTH ISLAND TRUNK LINE.

LABOUR TROUBLES.

[BY TKI.ECiKAPH.—I>I!i:ss ASSOCIATION'.]

Palsikbstox North. Monday. Owing to orders having come from headquarters that some of the navvies on the Mataroa-Turangarere section of the North Island Trunk, railway, who have been on day wages, are to revert to the co-operative system, between 40 and 50 men have left the works. During- the last five weeks they have been earning, owing to the weather, only an average of 4s 2d per day. Experienced men object to being put in gangs with novices. The moil point out that, they have to pay 40 to 50 per cent, more for necessaries than town workers. The principal storekeepers-refuse .stores to navvies without cash, and the Government will cither have to stop the works or provide stores. Tin* men are demanding (1) Day labour, with an increased pay for night work; (2) the establishment of a Government store, or the guaranteeing of a storekeeper to supply goods at a reduced rate on prices now beingpaid by the men; (3) the complete separation of the. inexperienced worker from the experienced navvy, and the organising of special gangs for men physically incapable, of performing equal work with the stalwart and experienced navvy. It is pointed out that unless these reforms- aro speedily carried out further construction will experience a terious setback this winter.