RAILWAY WORKERS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 113, 6 February 1919, Page 6

RAILWAY WORKERS

CLAIMS FOR IMPROVED

CONDITIONS

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS INVOLVED

THE PUBLIC Td PAY

The public will no doubt have noted the tone of recent communications from the secretary of the N.Z. Locomotive Engine-drivers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association, Mr. M'Arley, to the 'Minister of Railways, demanding increased pay and improved conditions for members of his branch of the service. Speaking to a Dominion reporter yesterday, Mr. M'Arley said:— "Practically all the delegates have a mandate from their unions to go on strike if the Minister does not give a satisfactory answer to their . requests. The whole tiling hinges upon what takes place with the Minister on February 12. Most of the delegates are very determined as to what attitude the Minister should take up. They expect him to put definite proposals before them. They consider that it would be only a waste of timo to discuss the position any further, and that, it is 'up to' the-Minister to come, down with his proposals." Mr. M'Arley added that it would be of no use for Mr. Hordes to say that before doing anything lie would have to consult the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and the Railway Officers' Institute, or that an alteration to the schedule of the Railways Act would bo necessary in order to permit of increases in wages being made. What the delegates were resolved to obtain from him was a definite statement as to what he proposed in the way of increasing wages and improving the conditions in the • service generally so far as locomotive men, firemen, and cleaners were concerned. Anything short of that would only lead to trouble, as the men in the : North Island felt very strongly on the matter. The members of the association in the South Island were also pretty militant, and they would not hesitate to come out in sympitliy with those in the North Island should a strike be decided upon. Mr. M'Arley said that after the interview with the Minister the delegates would explain the situation to their respective branches, and if the reply received to the representations made was deemed to be unsatisfactory a ballot would be taken on the question of striking. These assertions of Mr. M'Arley makes rather curious reading in the light of the fact that he presumably had in his possession nt the time of making them the following letter from the Minister of Railways:—

New Zealand C4overnment Kail.vsiys. Head Office, Wellington, February i, 191!). Sir,—l am in receipt of your letter of the 31st ultimo, and have already' informed you that both the other societies representing railwaymen, namely, the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and the Railway Officers' Institute, are seeking interviews with mo through their executives, and that I am meeting those societies, as well as the executive of your association, during the present month. You Must he well aware that,-it would he impossible for me to give at our interview next week any definite promise as to the extent to which the-locomotive men's requests can be met before I have discussed the whole question of improvements in -pay and conditious affecting the great majority of .the- railwaymen with the societies who represent them. Your association comprises less than ten per cent, of the total railwaymen employed by the Government. . It is clear that if all the

demands advanced by you on behalf of the locomotive running men aro agreed to prior to the hearing of the requests of the other two organisations, the interests of ninety per cent, who constitute the bulk of the railwaymen will be unfairly prejudiced.

The Amalgamated Society of Bailway Servants and the Eailway Officers' Institute claim, and ' claim rightly, thot the interests of their members must be fully and deliberately considered before the Government is committed to any largo scheme of revision of pay and conditions involving a heavy additional expenditure. The requests now being advanced by the different, organisations involve the Department and tha country in on increase in railway expenditure of several hundred thousand pounds per annum, and will necessitate a permanent increaso either in railway rates and fares, or in taxation. • Therefore if the just demand? of all branches of the Service aro to bo accorded careful and impartial consideration, and the rights of the public protected, it is necessary that all the requests, should bo heard and fully discussed and the cost cairefully calculated, so that no one section of tho railway servants bo given priority of treatment by me in connection with the improvements. I have promised to meet your executive next week, so as to give them the fullest 'opportunity of stating the wishes of the members of your association and adducing all tho arguments in favour of the alterations you are advocating, and have undertaken to inept the exPcniHves of the Railway Officers' Institute and Amalgamated Society of Eailway Servants during the fortnight following, but you must not expect any definite pronouncement from me in regard to alteired rates of pay, etc., until tho case as affecting (ill railwaymen has been placed before me and considered.

I am fully in sympathy with tho reasonable aspirations of tho railwaymen to obtain improviwnts iii pay and conditions bv n revision of flip Schedule to the '1912 and 1913 Acts and the regulations', now that the war is practically concluded. As soon, therefore, as a faiir and comprehensive scheme can be prepared embodying the requirements of the railway servants as a whole, and the cost has been calculated so as to determine whether the public can he fairly asked to boar the additional cost to the extent required, I shall be quite willing to bring a scheme of ffnnrovements in conditions before the House with the object of obtaining sanction for the new rates of pay, this new scheme to become oporative as from April 1 next.

I have the honour to he, etc. (S'gd.) W. H. HERRIES, Minister of Railways. The General Secretary, N.Z. Locomotive Engine-drivers Firemen, and Cleaners' .Association 53 Eallance Street, Wellington! "THE CLASS-SELFISH IDEA" (By Telegraph-Special Cowmondent) Masterton, February 5. The Masterton branch of the A.S.R S has passed a resolution supporting' the demands of the engine-drivers, firemen and cleaner?, but statin? that support would bo stronger if the cJass-selfish idea were dropped. ,