RAILWAYMEN'S PAY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2722, 17 March 1916, Page 6

RAILWAYMEN'S PAY

. A PREMATURE RUMOUR. • A rumour was m circulation. at the Petono, Railway . Workshops yesterday • that the: .Govd'ument . .had. agreed . to 'grant the'railwayman's demand forj'-.lsi' ;a day. increase in wages. > ; : ! J: This report .was referred to.the Prime >Minister,for*.his comment,-.upon,it last : .night. Mr. Massey's reply was that no permanent increase pay-of ! raiiwhymen ' could ■be -' granted' - unless :■ • with the sanotioir of: Parliament. -; A temporary allowance 'could" 'be given ;without reference to ; Parliament; and iif any .war, bonus or, anything of the sort. were, given ■it would be given as from the begiimingof 1 the financial :,year. ■ > Mr. , Massey Tepeated his pre/vipiiS ideolaration' on the subject, Hhat tho Governmentcould not, come to any final onthe point until the • financial position ,of the" country was : known.with certainty.' This- the Govern-' : ;ment could .not know until 6omo x weeks : after the close of the financial year on ,Maroh 31 next;":-.' i At tho conclusion-of a meeting of tho i Pctons Branoh of tho .A.S'.R.S., the see, wasaEkediftfaersfory. were true,. ; but his reply was-to the offect :"Any m- - formation is stnotly confidential , MEETING AT HASTINGS. .' By'Telegraph—Press, Association.. : Hastings, March 18. A mooting of Hastings railwaymen. i passed tho following resolution : "That ; this; meeting views, with intense. dis- . satisfaction tho attempt to defer an, increase of pay. Under tho present high , oost of living wo find it impossible to • meet our liabilities. We heartilyen- . dorse the action of > the Petone work- : shop employees a's expressed at their . recent meeting." 1

BELLICOSE ATTITUDE AT NAPIER. By Telegraph —(Special OorressondentA . Napier, March 16. , ' At a, meeting .of.:..theNapier ..branch. of. the-; A. S .11'. S., h eld "■ last evening,';-'a resolution was passed expressing dis* satisfaction at the. Prime Minister's re* ply regarding the question of increased, wages' and recommending the executive to take a ballot of members throughout flie Dominion to consider if. there shall be" an'.'immediate cessation of work, if .the men's demands are not complied pith.