COAL CARTERS DISMISSED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16456, 18 June 1921, Page 9

COAL CARTERS DISMISSED.

TROUBLE AT STATE DEPOT. THE WET AFTERNOON. Six carters employed by the State Coal Depot in Christchurch were dismissed yesterday afternoon. One was reinstated this morning, but the other five are now among the unemployed. Conflicting accounts nre given of the iucidtent. The men state that in the afternoon, possibly about two o’clock, they communicated trom the stables in Tunm Street with Mr Nalder. the manager of the depot, being under the impression that the foreman of the depot was at Lyttelton, and Mr balder informed them that tho foreman was at the depot, and that they must deal with him. An interview with the foreman followed, and the men state that as the result of a communication between tlie foreman and Mr Nalder they were informed that they could have the rest of the afternoon off, but they would lose half a day’s wages. They accepted this condition, and proceeded to attend to their horses. Later oil they were astounded to receive notion that they were “ instantly dismissed.” and requested to call for their money. They claim that they went off with the full concurrence of the management and foreman. Tho men’s account is not subscribed to by Mr Nalder. He says that they communicated with him asking him to consent to them not working during the afternoon, and lie referred them to tho foreman, who had returned from Lyttelton. If the men had known that tho foreman was at tho depot they would probably have reported to him at the proper time, but they did not attempt to turn out. IT© (Mr Nalder) could not agree to their request, because wet days were tho busy days of the coal delivery trade, as people wanted their coal, and orders flocked In. Though tho day was a wot one, the afternoon was an improvement on the morning, and the weather was not boisterous or cold. Tho men, after a previous trouble, had agreed to work wet or fine, and they were the first to break that undertaking. The carters employed by a big coal company were all working, mid lie did not and could not consent to a cessation of the activities of the State depot.