TRADES AND LABOUR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 763, 21 July 1916, Page 3

TRADES AND LABOUR.

ELECTRICAL WORKERS PERTURBED. Several electrical workers in the city, who interviewed a Sun reporter are much perturbed over some remarks made by Mr E. Stark, city electrical engineer, at the Conciliation Council proceedings on Tuesday. Mr Stark is reported to have said that as examiner for licenses (for wiremen) lie would assert that the lack of technical knowledge on the part of the men was appalling, due to the fact that they took no interest in the work of qualifying themselves for greater knowledge and more important functions. They were all the time "looking at the clock." Mr C. Cookson, secretary of the union, took strong exception to Mr Stark's remarks, which he characterised as "most offensive." When the matter was mentioned to Mr Stark to-day, that gentleman said that he by no means wished to imply that the remarks made by him were applicable to all electrical workers. During his residence in Christ church, however, he had had some unfortunate experiences with incompetent and unambitious men, and it was these cases that he had in mind when he spoke as he did at the Conciliation Council. He wanted a fair day's work for a fair day's pay from the men, but he was certainly not guilty of taking up an aggressive attitude towards them.

A MINING DISPUTE. By Cable, — Press Association. — Copyright. SYDNEY, July 20. ' A mass meeting of miners from the Maitland, Lambton, West Maitland, and Woollongong collieries carried resolutions protesting against the failure of the proprietors to grant the eight hour bank-to-bank payment, which is overdue.