OYIRA TUNNEL STRIKE.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14667, 22 March 1918, Page 5

OYIRA TUNNEL STRIKE.

DEPUTATION TO SIB. W. FRASER-

[United Press AssoaAHON.]

Wellington, March .21. A deputation from the Otira \tfoi\ ers' Union waited on the Minister of Public vWorks this forenoon in refer* ence to the strike over the management dispensing with thr- services of a boy named Ernest F>vH.

The deputation .said I'm- Iftd was engaged for the lamp room, and wa« asked to do firing v%ork for the boiler, which work ho w;:> un£-!>!« to do, owing to a withcrt i! arm. The Minister :vpiiod i.'tui lie knew the work the boy would hi- called upon to do. The Minister couid find no justification for a stoppage of work. No harshness had been exercised- towards Fell, who was given a-moutirs notice, he being \in suitable for iho job. Replying to the deputation representing the Otira tunnel workers, Sir Wi!liam Fraser said he could not reinstato Fell. Whatever lie did ••ctj.ardinjr this cass would boa guidn ::<■' :<iiVct'mg other works. If he were to reinstate Foil, if. would he regarded rhnn::_-;h<n:t the Dominion, as an . admiesioi2 that, in the* control of any work, i\\r District isngineer must consult the union Ijeforo ho could dispense with Vnv 'sorvi'ies ok any man. He could not alloy; such aa idea to go abroad.