REQUEST FOR A ROUNDSTABLE CONFERENCE

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 128, 3 June 1919, Page 7

REQUEST FOR A ROUNDSTABLE CONFERENCE

AGREED TO BY MINISTER?

WHO' SHOULD PRESIDE?

The following tether -oorrespondgnc*! has passed between tihe !Actang Prim* Minister (Sir James Allen) and the I<oco>-i motive Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners*' Association Executive Council :— "New Zealand Locomotive Engineers,Firemen, and Cleaners' Association. 2nd* June, 1919. . Sir,- —We have -..the honour to advise you that your letter of 30th ultimo^, which conveyed the Government's replyj to the request from this association toifappoint a conciliator, has been duly con-: sidered by the Executive Council of this association, and they direct that a reply/, sliall be sent seriatim. ~ "The Executive Council respectfully, submits that the Government has evidently been misinformed in regard to the representatives of this association refusing to meet the Minister: of Railways, in', a round the table conference to discuss I the Government's scheme as submitted' to this association. ■- _ "The representatives from this associa--. tion have never refused to meet the Min- | ister in a round the table conference for I such a purpose, and they will be pleased: j to know what date upon which you have I been advised as to their refusal to discuss the Government's scheme. "With reference to the Government's | suggestion that such a conference be held, [wo are directed to accept the Govern.- ---| ment's suggestion, and by so doing we1 i hope to convince the Government that we are sincere in our desire to a-void any industrial trouble. ■'■ "Further, we are directed to ask that aa the dispute is between the Minister of Railways, and' this association, the Hon. Mr. Myers, Acting Minister o£ i'lnance shall act as Chairman at the conference. We are directed to submit t-ais gentleman's name because of the experience which he has had in railway administration. . , "The association will,^ such around the table conference, submit their objections to the Go'»;rnment's scheme, provided the Minister of Railways submits his objections to the association's I scheme. - ' .' j "With reference to the Government's j strong recommendation for this associa- [ tion to accept the Government's scheme jas submitted to this association, wei are j directed to respectfully'point out to the i Government that this recommendation [is manifestly unfair, inasmuch, as the I Government has placed at least, one acceptable proposition in the scheme submitted to the A.S.R.S. and which is not contained in the scheme submitted to this association, viz., a 44 hour week for the 48 hour week's pay. ' "There is nothing in the scheme which.is submitted to this association for improved conditions and which is not applicable to the members of the society, . which you refer to in your letter. "With reference to the Government* suggestion that the scheme be given a. fair trial, we are directed to respectfully; point out to you that the men are now; working under the scheme, and it seemsivery evident that you have again been:' misinformed. "The men have, by a. majority votekj of 99i per cent., decided that the Gov-j ernment's scheme as submitted to theiilf association does not 'fill the bill.' "With reference to the statement s,in| your letter referring to the Arbitration! Court, we are directed to state that noi reference was made to this association coming under the Industrial Concili<W tion and Arbitration Court, in the eigjw ed statement presented by this as6oci.i-| tion to you on the 13th May, by thai representatives .of th& men from all theiij| branches, therefore, this reference insj your letter is superfloue, and requires!) no comment herein. "Executive Council regrets that the?j Government could not accede tol the* re-i quest for a conciliator, as suggested in?; the 6igned statement, but we feel euro; that if the Government is sincere in itsdesire to prevent industrial trouble, not objection will be raised by the Govern-, ment to the Hon. A. M. Myers acting . as Chairman at your suggested conference. Execative Council will be muchit obliged if the Government frill give w reply to this letter during the presentl week.—We are, yours faithfully, (Signed) E. W. HENDERSON, Presi» dent r W. M'ARLEY,. Secretary."' ,