PUBLIC WORKS STRIKE

Wairarapa Daily Times, 8 September 1937, Page 4

PUBLIC WORKS STRIKE

MEN RESUME WORK. A statement that theojbi who struck on the public works course of construction at Biuee Bay, South Westland, had returned to work on receiving his message asking them to resume, was made last evening by the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R, Semple. On receiving word 1 of the strike on Friday last the Minister telegraphed to Mr D. McGee, union secretary, at Bruce Bay, stating that the action taken was in direct conflict with the union agreement and the Government’s Public Works policy. “The proper course for you and the men you represent to have! followed,” said Mr Semple, “was to hand your dispute over to the head office of your union and allow them to negotiate with the public works engineer with a view to arriving at a settlement prior to any action being taken. You have failed to do this and have struck on your own account without proper consultation or negotiation of any sort or kind. I rang Mr Cook this morning, and he informed me that by wire he advisecMhe men to return to work, and his a«j|ice has been ignored. He has thereiore placed the matter entirely in my hands. Unless you return to work forthwith and comply with your agreement, and show some spirit of loyalty to the Government that is trying to do its best for you, I will be compelled to take definite action.”

The Minister received the following reply from Mr McGee: “Cook advised on matters months ago. Left men to deal with scabs in what way they thought fit. Men firm and definite, will not work with scabs. Strike still on until agreement reached one way or other.” N

Mr Semple then replied that he regretted to learn that the men had taken up such an unreasonable standi In the first place, he said, the men hail broken the agreement, as the matter was not referred to the Engineer-in-Ciiief of the Public Works in the constitutional manner before striking; secondly, the men had ignored the organiser’s advice to resume work. He acted on instructions from the union head office. Thirdly, the men had defied the Minister’s instructions to resume duty. I have, jjjherefore, no other course open but Tv ask the men to resume work forthwith,” said Mr Semple, “and failing to do so I shall instruct the district engineer at Greymouth to pay off all those who refuse to do so. I have discussed the situation with the Hon. P. C. Webb, ActingMinister of Labour, who concurs in the course I am taking.”