UNION TROUBLE AT MINTARO
PLATE-LAYERS CEASE WORK.
Adelaide, Tuesday.
The Hon. J. Verran asked the Commissioner of Public Works, Sir Richard Butler, in the House of Assembly to day, if he intended to keep 110 men idle at Mintaro through the obstinacy of one individual. Also whether it was wise to give all these men their walking tickets until that one man came into possession of all his faculties. The trouble referred to by Mr Verran occurred through a non-unionist being employed in relaying work at Mintaro, and who, it was stated, had been informed by the men that he would either have to join the union or leave the job. Sir Richard said he had advised the Railways Commissioner, if that was the attitude adopted by the men they had better be paid off. With the exception of three or four men this had been done. The Government would not allow the men to d[i]ctate to them as to who should be employed by the Government. Neither had the Government made any enquiries as to whether the men were unionists or non-unionists. If they did fairly good work the Government would keep them on, but they would not submit to d[i]ctation of that character.
