GRAVE DISCONTENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 12, 9 October 1918, Page 8

GRAVE DISCONTENT

AMONG RAILWAYMEN BETTER CONDITIONS SOUGHT A statement issued by the executive council of the New Zealand Locomotive Engineers, Krcmen, and Cleaners' Association points out that very grave discontent exists among tho members of the association, whose ranks havo been seriously depleted owing to enlistments, and the fact that a large number have taken advantage of positions ottering outside- tho service with better conditions of life. Most of those who.havo gone to tho i'ront and. returned aro not seeking reeiuployrnent in tho service, because tho conditions of work aro not by any means congenial, and- the pay is too small in comparison with tho responsibilities and the strictness of duty attached to train-running. The pay offered is no inducement to lads to join, and the. Department at tho present timo is without lads in training for this responsible work, and this means that trains will be run with untrained, unskilled men, upon wb.om-.will fall the responsibility of a train disaster, in spite of the fact that their entry into the service is , duo to the lack of responsibility of those in control.

Probably large numbers of the public think that a locomotive man running trains during night time receives an extra rate, but that is a misapprehension of the position, as ho only receives ordinary time. A first-class engineer, a position only attainable after twenty years' service, threo years of which as a cleaner is wholly night duty, receives for running the Main Trunk express to Auckland the sum of Is. BJd. an hour. A first-class fireman, some of whom at the present time have been on for fourteen years, receives Is. 3Jd. per hour for such work. If they are in the second class they receive as follows:—Engineers, Is. 6d. per hour, and firemen Is. 2Jd. per hour. No overtime rates are paid for night duty, and no overtime rates for hours in excess of eight hours per day. Overtime is only paid when in excess of 48 hours for tlie week. In addition to this there are several duties which the men are called upon to do, and for which they receive no pay whatever.

During the last seventeen years, according to the statement, 'the real wages of a locomotive man has seriously declined. In 1900 a few engineers received 135.. per day, but the majority received 12s. in the first grade of engineers, and the rate was even up to a maximum of los. a dny in Provincial Council days. The 13s. a. day men received, therefore, 100 per coin, over a living wage, and the 12s. a day engineer received roughly SO per cent. To-day the first grade engineer receives less than 50 per cent, over the living wage. In 1900 the second grade enginf«rs received over 50 per cent, over living .wage, and to-day only about 33 per cent. First grade firemen in 1900 received 3D per cent, over living wage, and to-day about 16 per cent. Second grade firemen in 1900 received over 18 per cent, over living wage, and to-day only about 6 per cent. Cleaners are still in receipt of a living wage or existing wage as their maximum. Tho maximum wage paid per schedule of the Railways Act to engineers is 13s. 6d. per day, in comparison with 16s. and over in Australian States, in spite of the fact that Ministers have assisted in getting the Australian rates for New Zealanu.seamen.

The recent war bonuses granted to locomotive men wprk out as follow l— Married first grade engineers, 15 per cent. , increase; married second grade engineers, 17 per cent, increase; married- first grade firemen, 19 per. cent, increase; married second grade fire* men, 20 pur cejit. increase; cleaners, 22 per cent, increase; single first grade engineers', 7£ per cent, increase; single second grade engineers, 8£ per cent, increase; single first grade firemen, 9i per cent, increase; single second grade firemen, 12 per cent, increase; cleaners, 11 per cent, increase. The cost of living, however, has advanced about 50 per cent, to these men. It therefore appears, the executive council of theassociation contends, that a loyal servant of the Government, or, in othei words, the people, is judged by the amount that he is prepared to take without protesting, and the locomotive men have- come to the conclusion that the game is hardly worth the candle.

The executive council has decided to make the third and last nppeal to Parliament for fair and equitable treatment of these men. Quite recently the Minister was approached in regard to improving tho conditions regarding uig'h't work, but the council was far from satisfied with the hearing which the request received. In view of these facts the council will endeavour to bring about an amicable understanding through Parliament.

The statement concludes: —"The loco, motive men have many practicnl assurances of support in any steps that may be taken to get them a fair hearing. At presgnt' the executive is doing all it can to avert anything wliich may lead up to a_ disorganisation of the industries of this country, and has given its loyal support to the Government .up.to the present from the commencement of the war, but it has also to be faithful to its members, 'and if the Government is going to consider the capital interests first and last then there is an end to loyalty for all time so far as the locomotive men are concerned to the people of New Zealand They only ask for fair treatment."