THE TROUBLE AT DOMETT.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12468, 18 February 1909, Page 3

THE TROUBLE AT DOMETT.

UNDER-SECRET A«Y AND WORKEKS.- .. " ; AN ENQUIRy. [United Peess Association.] Christohurcb, Feb. 17; Mr J. U. _Blow, Under-Secretary of Public Works,- held an enquiry at Domett yesterday into the'complaints made by the cooperative workers en the railway construction works. It was explained to the men that the first supposed .delay in the payment of wages was due to the fact that men were constantly arriving on the works after October 6th, and it was thought that: it would b? quitD -a -fair, thing to pay on tne day which was selected. The second delay was due to the holiday season intervening. These special circumstances haying been removed there should be no irregularity in future. In regard to the holidays it was stated that the engineer .had made a mistake when he rvled ' th'at 'a ten days' holiday was compulsory. If the men had' telegraphed to Wellington they would have been informed that they nould work, if they chose t> do so. : "■.■■' •_■ .."..,•.' The pepartmect . was agreeable to provide all sanatory conveniences necessary to secure decency,- and.also to i: furnish firewood and coal at; cost price. In regard to the request fcr timber for the tloors of tents, the married men were informed that this would be done where there were.women or children in the tents. They were warned not to burn the timber I so provided. I The system of payment was discuased, . but on this ~poirit the Department was obdurate. The Minister had previously informed; the men specifically that the ratoa wbuldnot be raised, and that they compared well, .with the rates ; paid .in ■■other parts of the Dominion.' Mr Blow,' however, undertook to visit several of the cuttings and see the sort of material which was being lifted; The : dismissal of 'Mr Campbell, one of the workmen who had taken active an part in the labour troubles, was referred to," but Mr Blow absolutely refused to discuss the causes whinh led to it. If Mr Campbell had. been present at the' enquiry the matter could ba7e, been discussed. There was a disposition b'h ttie "part" of the men to drag the subject in "by- the heels," but" Mr /.Blow checked this by informing those wb "'wanted - informatibp" ' 1 that '-.'they; could ' -keep on wanting it." .