GAS CUT OFF.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16283, 10 July 1917, Page 2

GAS CUT OFF.

WELLINGTON DARK AT NIGHT. RETORT' MEN HAVE LEFT. . (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 9. The Wellington Gas Company's retort house men ceased work yesterday morning m accordance with tne notice given a fortnight ago. The retorts have since been kept going by squads of men from the company's general staff, and .it is iioped tiiey will' be able to keep the city supplied. Thirty men offered their services to replace the eighteen who left, and though handicapped by inexperience they managed to keep the output of gas almost up to normal.

The' trouble with retort house employers continuing the Gas Company lias decided to cut off all supplies of gas at 6 o'clock in the evening. This course is being adopted as likely to cause the least dislocation of industry. It is realised that this will cause inconvenience, particularly in the matter of domestic and public lighting, but the only alternative to this inconvenience is the dislocation of industry by cutting off gas supplies in the daytime, thus throwing workers out of employment and disturbing industries dependent for power upon gas' engines. The need for the step is that though the men who left in accordance with notice yesterday morning have been replaced by some thirty other employees, the latter are new to the work and for n. while will be unable to keep production up to full pressure.

The new men are working under skilled direction, and are reported to be shaping well. They find no. difficulty in working in the heat, which was one of the. principal grounds of complaint put forward by the old staff. Gradually the men at present, working will be replaced by others from outside. The management stated to-day that a number of applications had been received, and as ;-oon as possible the men would be organised into permanent shifts.

The men who left work yesterday complain that a defective roof made the conditions bad, especially for fire cleaners. They also state that a Han to carry off fumes was promised a year ago, but has not yet been installed. The Company explains that a portion of the roof is removed for ventilation in summer, and repairs will be effected immediately. A fan will be put in as soon as possible. Extra assistance bad been provided in connection wirh fire, cleaning, but this w r as not what the men - wanted. They .wished

to do the work and could do it, hut desired extra pay. A further development of the trouble is reported. It is understood. that a coal laden steamer at Mirimar wharf, at which the supplies for gas works are usually landed, is unable to discharge outing to a labour trouble.