DISMISSED EMPLOYEES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8653, 11 February 1914, Page 8

DISMISSED EMPLOYEES

APPLICATION FOR RE-INST ATE- ' MENT. ' Press Association. / DUNEDIN, February 10/ A deputation consisting of Messrs Steve Boreham, McLean, McAllan, and Montgomery waited on the' Otago Harbour Board this afternoon to ask the board to consider the question of re-instating five men who had left the board’s service during the. strike period rather than carry out instructions to erect barricades on the wharves. All the members of the deputation addressed the board at length on different aspects of the case. They said that the men who were dismissed were recognised as efficient workmen, and had been in the board’s service for many years. When ordered to put up barricades they asked for police protection, which was refused them. They then refused to do the work, presumably'oh the ground that they ran a serious risk of bodily injury and that it was unfair from other aspects for the board to request them to do such work. It was also pointed out that the board was doing a wrong thing in having IS or 20 non-unionists in its employ at the present time when there wer* unionists available for employment. Finally they asked that the dismissed men should be re-instated at the earliest opportunity. In the course of a brief discussion between the board members, Mr Bcollay'said there had been a “black list” in circulation on the water front since the strike, and what was going on was anything but a credit to the community. The matter was finally referred for a report to a committee consisting of Messrs : Bullock, Belcher, London, and the chairman (Mr Moller).