NO SETTLEMENT REACHED

Southland Times, Issue 23287, 25 August 1937, Page 6

NO SETTLEMENT REACHED

CARPENTERS’ STRIKE AT ORAKEI (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 24. After three days’negotiations no settlement has been reached about the strike of carpenters engaged on the erection of State houses at Orakei. It is now feared the strike will involve all workers employed on the contract by the Fletcher Construction Company and its sub-contractors with the exception of the apprentices, watchmen and a few hands at the Penrose factory. A number of bricklayers and bricklayers’ labourers resumed work this morning but there is only sufficient work to keep them employed for a few days. The roof tilers are still working, but there are only two roofs to be completed. The total number of men engaged on the job at Orakei is 275. At the joinery factory and mill at Penrose there are 90, sub-contractors for the plumbing, plastering and tile laying, etc., employ 92. “If a settlement is not reached speedily nobody will be at work on the job after the present week,” said Mr W. Fletcher, principal of the contracting firm this morning. “If the strike had not occurred 31 houses would have been completed in a month from the date the strike began.”