GAS WORKERS' DISPUTE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13662, 28 March 1908, Page 5

GAS WORKERS' DISPUTE.

-' The. Court heard the dispute between ; iijhe Wefiingtpn ' Gas " Stokers' and !(|okers* Union and the Wellington Gas '©bmpany. The principal claims of the Union were that a full week's work fstiould consist of «£even sfcarWof SP'hours 1 ' Iper shift s, the working h9urs to be for leach shifty morning 5 to 1, afternoon 1 till 9, night 9 till 5 o'clock ; the minijmum rate of wages, leading stokers 12s !per! shift, ordinary, istpkers. /11s per jshift, work done on specified holidays [and Sundays to be paid for at the*' rate [of double time. Preference was also [claimed. - ; Mr Birch, manager of the Gas Company, said the main dispute was in (regard to specifying the hours of work. (This showed an inclination to 1 interfere jwath the management <>f the company, sfor circumstances- might arise 'would necessitate the hours being made different. The rate of wages asked was 'strongly objected to-. " ■ Dr. A. E. Souzens said that at tne' of the union he had examined ;the Gas Company's works last Thursday, and the conditions under which the men worked. T.he.nlade-wa^y,ery hot and naturally very dirty, with a, great many fumes of noxious gases' arising. Working under such conditions was un!healthy, and would .have a tendency to induce" Drorichitls.

Mr Reardon : Then your examination ]of the works shoWetl 70U that employWent there is more uiuiealthy than the •average? — I should say that without any hesitation whatever. Jt isr classed 'amongst the unhealthy occupations, isueh as coal mining. " - ! The Court reserved its decision*