FUMES IN TUNNEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24716, 19 September 1941, Page 4

FUMES IN TUNNEL

ALLEGATION BY WORKERS DEFECTIONS AT THE HOMER (P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Sept. 18. Nine men working on shift in the Homer tunnel have left their work during the last few days. Their action followed a meeting of tunnel workers who unanimously agreed not to continue working in the tunnel unless two Diesel-driven dumpers were removed or a fan installed to create a draught. The dumpers, it was alleged, created fumes injurious to the health to the men. A second shift of eight men has continued because of the removal of the Diesels just before the complaint was officially lodged by the first shift. It is understood that the men working on the first shift were told by the contractors that their complaint would be met by the temporary removal of the Diesels until a fan was installed, which would be a matter of from five to six weeks. The removal of the Diesels, however, meant that the driving of the machines on which the first shift was engaged could not be carried on. and accordingly the men did not start on their shift.

At a meeting on Tuesday night the men on the second shift unanimously agreed to carry on their present work without the Diesels, but not to work in the tunnel if the Diesels were operated without a fan.