THE OTIRA TUNNEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14211, 12 May 1908, Page 5

THE OTIRA TUNNEL

MINERS' TROUBLES.

THE UNION VIEW.

(Feoji Our Own Correspondent.] GREYMOUTH, May 11. Regarding the recent trouble at Otira, Mr Semplo, president of the State Coal Miners' Union, published in to-night's Star a statement as follows:—"It has been known totho public that recently the actual tunnel work was started, quite a number'of men being employed thereon. These men were receiving 10s por day, which is the oulsido rate. Three shifts were put on tl*e tunnel, which, after clearing the surface of the hill, became very wet. Most of the miners, recognising that a higher rate of wage obtained lor wot'* in wot places in tunnels, approached M'Lcan Bros, with a request ■that they should pay 11b per day,, which would have been Is above tlio outside rate, and also supply oilers. Both requests were refused. JNaturally tho mountain wator was very cold and injurious to health, while there was no changing room, tlio men having to walk a considerable distance, some at night time, in tho piercing cold before changing. The men, when they found that Mr M'Lean would not comply with their request, left tho contract. Since this tho M'Leans' representative has blamed the officers of tlio Reefton Union for advi3-' ing the men to act as they did, on account of the said officers visiting Otira of late. The men want to give tins a denial, and desire to say that tho Inangahuu officers had no hand in the trouble at all, and that it was their intention to approach Mr M'Lean as soon as ho visited the works. This decision was arrived at long before the Inangahua officers visited Otira. Tho men also offered to work six hours for lfls, but Messrs M'Lean refused. The men' have not asked for anything unreasonable, as 'the ruling rate for wet places in coal mines is 12s for six hours, or 16s for eight hours. The men thus offered to work at a rate less than that paid in other parts of the district."