THE LOCO. DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 213, 3 June 1919, Page 6

THE LOCO. DISPUTE

HEN'S REPLY TO THE GOVER-N- ---* MENT. ' The New Zealand Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association has sent the following letter to the Act-ing-Prime Minister:— Wo have tho honour to advise you that your lottcr of May 30, which conveyed the Government's reply to the request from this association for to appoint a conciliator has been duly considered by the executive council of this association, and they direct that a reply shall bo sent seriatim.

The/ executive ,■council respectfully submits that the Government, has evidently been misinformed in regard to the representatives of this association rofusing to meet the Minister of Railways in a round-tho-tablc conference to discuss the Government's scheme as submitted to this association.

, Tho representatives from this i association have never refused to meet the Minister in a roumi-the-tablc conference totsuch a purpose, and they will bo pleased to know what dale upon which you have been advised as to their refusal to discuss the Government's scheme.

Witii reference to the Government's suggestion that such a conference be held, wo are directed to accept tho Government's suggestion, and by so doing we hope to convince the Government that we are sincere in our desire to avoid aoiy industrial trouble.

Further, we are directed to ask that as the dispute is between tho Minister of Railways and this association, tho Hon. -Mr. Myers, Acting-Minister of- Finance, shall act as chairman at the conference. We aro directed to submit this gentleman's name, because of tho "experience which he has had in railway administration.

Tho association will, in such a round-the-table conference, submit their objections to the Government's scheme, provided the Minister of Railways submits his objections to'the association's scheme.

With reference to the Government's strong necomniendation for this association to follow the example of the Amalgamated Society and accept the Government's scheme as submitted to this association, we are directed to respectfully point out to the Government that this recommendation is manifestly unfair, inasmuch as the Government has placed at least one acceptable proposition in the scheme submitted to the A.S.R.S. Mid which is not contained in the scheme submitted to this association, namelv, a forty-four-hotir weelc for the forty-e'ight-hour week's pay. There is nothing in the scheme which is submitted to this association for improved conditions and whicli is not applicable to the members of the society which you refer to in your letter.

With reference to Ihe Governfaent's suggestion that the scheme bo given a fair trial, we aro directed to respectfully point out to you that the men are now working under the scheme, and it seems very evident that you have again been misinformed. The men have, by a majority of 99i per cent., decided that the Government's scheme as -submitted to their association does not "fill the bill."

With reference to the statement in vonr letter referring to the arbitration Court, wo are directed to state that no reference was made to this association coming under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Court, in the signed statement presented by this association to von on May 13 by the representatives of the men from all their branches. Therefore, this reference, in vour letter is superfluous, and requires no comment herein.

The executive council regrets that flic Government could not accede Co the request for a conciliator as suggested in the signed statement, but wo feel sure thai: if the Government is sincere in its desire to prevent industrial trouble, l llo objection will be raised by the Government to the Hon. A. M. Myers acting as chairman at your suggested conference. The executive council will be much obliged if tho Government will give a reply to fhis letter during the present week.—We are (signed'), K. W. Henderson (president), W. M'Arley (secretary).

At a deputation of women which waited upon the Mayor on Saturday to urge the necessity of appointing women sanitary inspectors, Nurse Hveritt mentioned Hint women were more calculated (o see things about a house than men, and were urgently needed to visit hotels, reslaurants. etc.. and to report upon the slate of drains, taps, and conditions generally. Nurse Hveritl: also touched upon Ihe necessity for an official from (he Health Department being attached to the council, and to report promptly upon cases of sickness, etc., thus avoiding waste of time in cases of infectious diseases. Mrs. W. H. S. Moorhousc spoke of what the district nurses found upon their rounds, and urged that only a woman inspector could leport upon these conditions. It would he a great help to these nurses if there was a woman official to whom they could report. She hoped that someone would be appointed as soon as pnsible. _ Mrs. Aitkcu mentioned the. fact thai in Wellington there were houses where there wjis no bath, copper, or tnbs, _nnd that there were many matters which women would onlv speak to another woman about,