WORK STOPPED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20540, 15 February 1935, Page 7

WORK STOPPED.

Trouble at Fernside Relief Camp. REINSTATEMENT ASKED. At noon yesterday 70 relief workers at the Fernside camp on the Ashley River ceased work as a protest against the dismissal of one of their fellows. A meeting of workers passed a motion that they would continue the lock-out until the worker was reinstated, and, failing that, they would leave the camp and return to town. This morning a deputation appointed by the workers met Mr F. W. Langbein, District Public Works Engineer, and stated their case. Mr Langbein, it is believed, will visit the camp this afternoon and in the meantime the deputation has returned to Fernside. It appears that the worker was dismissed at 10.30 p.m. on Wednesday following an altercation with the foreman. Apparently he was having a wash at the outside basin and one of the men threw some cold water over him. He shouted and began an argument. The foreman ordered him to wait in the camp until the engineer in charge, Mr F. MTntyre, arrived in the morning. His dismissal was confirmed and he returned to the works to get his boots. When the other workers heard that he had been dismissed they held a meeting and appointed two men to wait on Mr MTntyre. They were unable to secure an appointment and it was decided to strike. At present the workers are awaiting the decision of Mr Langbein. Members of the deputation this morning stated that there had been some trouble on Tuesday owing to the rain. They considered they should not be asked to work in wet clothes, and they had protested when soaked by a downpour. However, this trouble had been settled after a conference with Mr MTntyre. The men also intend protesting about what they consider the inadequate protection of their blankets and equipment during the week-end. They consider that an official should be left at the camp during the week-end and not one of the men. This dispute is also causing disaffection at the camp. Mr Langbein declined to make any statement regarding the trouble.