The Denniston Rose (2015)
“Three times he came stamping back out into sleet or hail, cursing at the bland reason of the mine manager. How could a unionist make progress against such a shifting target?
The fourth visit was different. Eddie rose from his seat, wouldn’t look the committee in the eye.
‘Men,’ he said, ‘I have my orders from Westport, and they have theirs from Dunedin itself. They are brutal orders and I don’t say I’m agreeing with them, but there it is. My hands are tied.’ ‘Well, spit it out, Eddie,’ ...said Josiah. ‘We are not strangers.’ ‘Your men will not be happy …’ ‘Eddie.’ ‘I beg you to consider the situation the Company is in.’ ‘What is there to consider?’ growled Josiah. ‘You have said not one word of substance. Get on with it, man.’ Con the Brake, at the top of the Incline, reckoned he heard Josiah’s roar of fury that day. There’s no doubt the men loading skips at the Bins heard it. They heard him pound the iron walls of Eddie’s office until the icicles on the eaves shook clear and rang like bells on the lean-to roof below.MoreLess
The fourth visit was different. Eddie rose from his seat, wouldn’t look the committee in the eye.
‘Men,’ he said, ‘I have my orders from Westport, and they have theirs from Dunedin itself. They are brutal orders and I don’t say I’m agreeing with them, but there it is. My hands are tied.’ ‘Well, spit it out, Eddie,’ ...said Josiah. ‘We are not strangers.’ ‘Your men will not be happy …’ ‘Eddie.’ ‘I beg you to consider the situation the Company is in.’ ‘What is there to consider?’ growled Josiah. ‘You have said not one word of substance. Get on with it, man.’ Con the Brake, at the top of the Incline, reckoned he heard Josiah’s roar of fury that day. There’s no doubt the men loading skips at the Bins heard it. They heard him pound the iron walls of Eddie’s office until the icicles on the eaves shook clear and rang like bells on the lean-to roof below.MoreLess
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