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THE MOUNT LYELL MINE.
LABOR TROUBLE AT THE SMELTERS.
QUEENSTOWN, Friday.
There seems a probability of serious
trouble nt the Mount Lyell Company's No.
2 plant of smelters. The trouble has been
brewing for some weeks, ever since Afr.
Robert Stidit, the general manager of the
compnny, left for Afelbourne and Sydney.
Air. IT. TV. Wesley, who 'is in. charge of 'the
reduction works, had occasion on Alonday
night last to dismiss for a gross-act of in
subordination a man employed at No. 2
smelting plant. When the dismissal be
came known, 60 men on the top floor went
out on strike. The result would have been
disastrous had the men censed work at that
hour, and Air. Wesley gave way and rein-
Stn'ted the man he had dismissed. The men
at once retairned Ito work, vigorously cheer
ing an'd singing 'Riule Brftannin. On Tuesday
morning tne men who liad been involved
in The disturbance of the previousnight were
on No. S furnace, which Air. Wesley order
ed to be run down, and tlie men were conse
quently thrown idle for the day. On Wed
nesday morning a similar order was given
regarding the only other two furnaces iti
blast, and thus all work nl No. 2 plant ceas
ed, over 200 men, including those in itlie
blower room, being thrown out of employ
ment. .
Mr. Wesley had previously wired to the
directors for permission to shut down the
plant, and when the whole facts were ex
plained to them, they granted him a free
hand, and even empowered him ito shut
down No. 2 plant for the whole month if lie
considered it advisable. As, however, he
was of opinion that he would be enabled to
gain his object by a brief stoppage of the
plant, Air. Wesley decided that he would re
sume operations on Thursday morning. No.
9 furnace was accordingly blown in yester
day morning, land most of the permanent
hands were employed either on the former
work or at some special duties in connection
with the plant, leaving only some CO men
out of employment. Since then, however,
a notice has been posted at the works, stat
ing that no more furnaces in No. 2 plant
rajl be blown an for an indefinite period.
The meaning of this' notice is not known,
but ns a result of it. some 30 or 40 men call
ed at the office of the "Afount Lyell Stand
ard" to express their willingness to volun
teer for service iii Chinn in the event of men
from the colony being required. No. 1 plant
is'.not interfered with, and the shutting
down of the No. 2 plant will make no dif
ference to the quantity of purchased ores
that can be taken for treatment. Air.
Sticlit is expected to arrive in Quecnstown
on Sunday from the mainland.
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