TUNNELLERS ON STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18020, 20 February 1922, Page 6

TUNNELLERS ON STRIKE.

I THE MANGAHAO TROUBLE. I I THE MEN'S POINT OF VIEW. [bt telegraph.—press association.] WELLINGTON, S&turd»rTho trouble among the tunnellers at tb« Mangahao hydro-electric works hat not yet been settled. Commenting on lh« situation to-day Mr. F. Cook, acting-sec-retary of the New Zealand Worker*' Union, remarked that tie attitude taken up by the Public Works Department w» typical of the present Government's' administration. "We went before the Minister to ask for a reduction in the cosi of explosives and of sharpening steel, but the Minister refused to grant either request," said Mr. Cook. "The stand taken by the Minister is hard to understand. It means it is going to cosi from £7000 to £10,000 more to do fennel work at Mangahao than it would haya done. It has been repeatedly' dated in the press that the Minister farcers,work being done by co-operative coitad. This is not so. Men have already been engaged on the co-operative contract system. What the Minister does favouris a straight-out contract, which nwao* taking a little worry off tbe shoulders ot the department. Men were prepared to continue work at £3 2s a foot. The department is already paying for one tunnel ait Mangahao £4 10s a foot for a straightout contract, and it is practically certa' that not less than £4 10s a ■ foot wiJhave to bo paid for the Arapete tone! for a straight-out contract. The men who have now left Mangahao were the bes» tnnnel workers in New Zcaand and Till be verv hard to replace. They were workinir under the worst conditions and had a little tact been used by the Publw Works Department they would have been there till the tunnel was completed. An idea of the wet nature of the tunnel may be- gained from the fact that pumps are throwine 150 rations of water a mrauw out of the Xrapeto end."