RAILWAY WORKERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1511, 6 August 1912, Page 4

RAILWAY WORKERS.

-» — A GRIEVANCE, AND A REPLY. Some weeks ago tlie Southland Distric Labour Council wrote lo the Minister fo Railways, alleging that several marriei mcii had been dismissed from the main tenanee branch of the railways, and con tending- that they should have receiva preference over single men whose service were retained. At a meeting of the Labou Council on Saturday night, the followin letter from the Hon. W. H. Herries wa read "With reference' to your letter re pay ing oft' of railway hands at lnvercargii! I have the honour to inform you tlui I one of the conditions governing the ngret incut between the Department and th Amalgamated Society of Railway Servant is that the Department shall recoguiso n other union or body in connection wit! matters appertaining to men in the rail way employment. In these circumstance I regret that I cannot discuss the que; tion with your council. If the men r< fejrcd to in your letter are not member of the Amalgamated Society of Kailwa Servants, they should represent thei grievance through their foreman." Tho couucil objected to the Minister' attitude, and decided to publish tho lettei The Southland District Labour Counci passed the following resolution "That in th© opinion of the council i is inimical to the interests of the Labou party that any sitting Liberal. membe during the present Parliament should b recognised as a Labour member, and tlm it is desirous that such attitude bo 0,1; served until tho next general olecHoi: when-Liberals who join the Labour part; will have lo talio their chances at th ballot with other candidates before the; can be recognised as Labour members o Parliament."