RAILWAYMEN AND MINISTER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 119, 13 February 1919, Page 4

RAILWAYMEN AND MINISTER

CONFERENCE WITH LOCO. MEN, The Minister of. Railways met the delegates from the feinedrivers, Firemen and Cleaners' Association yesterday, and had a long conference with them about pay and conditions of their branch of the Railway Service. It is probable that Mr. Hemes will meet them again. The Minister meets the representatives of the Railway Officers' Institute oil Monday, and the representatives of "the A.S.R.S. next Thursday.

The secretary of the New Zealand Locomotive Enginedrivers, Firemen, and' Cleaners' Association (Mr. M'Arley) stated yesterday:— "The conference between the Minister of Railways and the N.Z. Locomotive Enginedrivers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association to-day proved abortive. The association's delegates insisted upon the Press being admitted, and the Minister declined to allow them in, or that the association could hand a copy of their report to Hie Press. After considerable discussion the delegates retired to consider the position, and when adjournment time came the matter had not been finally decided. The association holds that the public have a right to know what are the conditions under which our men are required to work. The Minister, on the other hand, insists that ha is not in a position to discuss the matter in public. The association also insists that the matters in dispute have been discussed with himself and the manager for the last seven or eight years on various occasions, and that it was up to the Minister to show that he Had considered these matters arid had certain proposals to make. The delegates expressed their convictions that the old method of listening to tho men's argument and replying auj old time had been called in.'