THE OTHER SIDE,

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20283, 16 December 1927, Page 12

THE OTHER SIDE,

REPLY TO MR COOK. (Special to Daily Times.) WELLINGTON, December 15. In reply to Mr Cook, Messrs Burnside and Matthews state that they have met the men on two occasions, the last being at Mr Cook’s request on December 4. In regard to Mr Cook’s statement that when he met the contractors on Wednesday afternoon, after the stop-work meeting, he did everything possible to prevent trouble, Mr Burnside said to-day in his conversation with Mr Cook he was merely informed that the men had decided to stop work until a conference had been held. His reply to this was that he would not deviate from" the previous arrangement to hold a conference on Sunday. The contractors’ reply to Mr Cook’s statement about the check inspector is that he put his clothes too close to the fire when drying them, and they were burned. He wished the contractors to pay for new clothes, and also to pay wages during a day off to purchase now ones. On being refused this, he attempted to enter the tunnel, stating that he wished to speak to the men about the matter, but was refused admittance. The contractors deny that the check inspector was asked by the men to go into the tunnel to view a wet place. He then left of bis own accord. Regarding the discharge of the president and secretary of the union, it is declared that these were among the six discharged on Monday, and that they had been given warning seven days before that such a course would be taken if they did not make better progress with their work As to Mr Cook’s statement that the men were competent tunnnellers, the contractors say that only seven out of all those ever employed on the job had had previous experience in such work. A large number of those dismissed had been paid off because of insobriety. However, some of these had been reinstated in their positions.