October 4, 2012

Date Published: 03-Oct-2012

1912

City strike

For the past five weeks a strike has been in progress at the Shantalla Quarries of the Galway Granite Quarry and Marble works, Limited, involving the idleness of some thirty men. Last Tuesday month twenty-eight men turned out and have not since returned to work, and on Wednesday last an advertisement was issued for thirty hands.

As to the cause of the strike, the manager, Mr. A.P. Fisher (who is putting an enormous amount of energy into this new enterprise) contends, we are given to understand, that if the men had a grievance there would be an easy likelihood of meeting them, and settling it, but it would appear from all that we have been able to gather, that the contention of the management is that there is no grievance at all.

The men left because three non-Union hands were taken on, but on behalf of the employers, it is set forth that one of the conditions of settlement of the general strike last March was that the employers should be free to engage whom they would, while Mr. Fisher further urges that the men who struck work were being paid wages actually higher than the Union rate.

1937

Shoe factory

Ballinasloe shoe factory, established almost four months ago, is now turning out up to 390 pairs of high-class ladies’ shoes each week.

These shoes are on sale in Ballinasloe, as well as being distributed to some of the first class shoe traders in Dublin and other large cities throughout the State. The managing director at the factory said there are now sixty skilled workers, of whom eighty per cent are local boys and girls. These latter were taken in at the opening of the factory and have now a skilled knowledge of the work.

“Ballinasloe factory is one of the most up-to-date and has the most modern machinery installed known to the trade, and the shoes produced are of the highest grade and best finished article possible,” he said.

Tuam Town Hall

Four sites have been selected by the committee of the Tuam Commissioners in connection with the proposed building of a new Town Hall. The sites are situated on High-street (2), Bishop-street and Vicar-street, and the Board’s solicitor has been instructed to obtain sale prices from the parties concerned, after which the final selection will be made.

Water cut off

Complaints are made of a shortage of water in some houses on Dublin Road, Tuam locality, and the explanation given is that the reservoir is being cleaned, which also necessitates the town water supply being cut off during the night. It is stated, however, that the water supply to the new houses on Tubberjarlath Road is not satisfactory.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.