ACTING-PRIMS MINISTER'S REPLY

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

ACTING-PRIMS MINISTER'S REPLY

"Prime Minister's Office, "Wellington, 2nd June. "Sir,—With reference to your letter of even date, I have to state that the | Hon. Minister of Railways had an iii- | terview with the Grand Council of the I Locomotive E-ngine-drivers, Firemen, and ! Cleaners' Association, at Wellington, on 12th February last. It was fully understood by the Hon. Minister 'of Railways that your executive would at that in- ! terview discuss with him certain pro-" ! posals which you desired to make in respect of an improvement in the wages . and'conditions of locomotive men. The Hon. Minister and the General Manager were not only prepared to listen to the views your council desired to put. forward in support of their programme,' but were most anxious to ascertain the grounds on which your proposals wera'based. "The Hon. Minister of Railways and' the retiring and incoming General Managers strongly urged the council to place1 fully before the Minister the views.'-of the council in support of the claims of the association. The Minister emphasised this fact by stating: 'You came to discuss wages and conditions. I want to hear your demands and your grievances, the reason why you put forward these demands, and why you are asking ; for certain increases in wages, so that ■ I may have the full information before, I me. Then, when I have obtained similar information from the other two Railway Societies, I shall confer with my officers, perpare a schedule myself, and ask you to select a portion of your council to go through same with the officers of the Department and myself so that we can prepare a schedule to go before1 Parliament.' "The reply given by the council to' tho Hon. Minister's statement as to the purpose of the meeting was in the direction of showing that the council was not authorised to discuss that aspect of the matte.r, a member of the council stating, 'Wo are hero as c the mouthpiece of the1 men, who wish to know what your proposals are. The men say they will decide as to your promise, and not us.* This was emphasised by your president,who stated, 'Anything brought forward -. at this interview" has first to be' submit- • ted to the men themselves.' " Notwithstanding these statements,the Hon. Minister and the General Mcbt< ager'for Railways made a furtHw en--\ deavour to induce 'the council to discuss matters, and to definitely bring forward all your arguments with the object of enabling the Minister- and ihe manage..meat to arrive at the point* to- which tho> greatest importance was attached, go,,as to enable a reasonable settlement to be arrived at as oariy as possible... Your' council was, therefore, urged to.beap iuv

ithe requests of the different societies remieseiited a, very large figure, and that it rtvould lose nothing by discussing thematjter quietly and logically with the object jof helping the Minister and the panagejment finally to come to a satisfactory ! conclusion. It was also pointed out that the programme of .your association and that of the Amalgamated Society of .Railway Servants would no doubt contain suggestions as to the payment of certain grades which, if granted, would j create anomalies that would require consideration. It was, therefore, essential that you argue your case skbefore the Minister, and for the other societies to )tio the same. ;* "The -council was assured that the intended bringing down an [amended schedule, and would afford j.them the opportunity of again meeting ■ Hum before the proposals were put before (.Parliament, and that the measure, when (■passed would date from Ist'April, 1919. this they remained ob--1 durato, and declined to admit the necessity for any discussion taking place with the other societies, so far as the claims of the locomotive men were concerned. The question of finance was no concern Vof theirs, and should not, therefore, be (jconsidered by the Minister. [ "So, in these circumstances, the meetPing was, on the suggestion of your pre[sident, adjourned till the 14th February, lon which date the same attitude was i taken up by the council as at the pretvious interview, although it was submit Kted that you had that day brought fori.ward a fresh schedule of demands for imtproved wages and conditions, that no General Manager could advise the Minister to say 'yea' or 'no' to the requests without first counting the cost, that the 'Minister said he was in sympathy with (you and would improve the conditions, ifemphssis was placed on the fact that it jwould be unwise for the council to go (out of the room under such circumstances [without first discussing your requests (with those who wore responsible to ,tho I public, .and who must as a matter of 'duty count the cost. "The Minister1 said: 'You have altered tyoitr whole programme, ypu have, put 'before me practically new matter, and I must consult my officers as to whether i they can bo granted or not. It would bo (unfair for you and also for me to take i out these items. I want to put the whole \o( the railwaymen on a level basis, and I there is no desire on. my part to treat [you unfairly.' "Your council then adjourned a iew 'minutes; and on resuming your presii dent informed the Minister: 'We have deMiberated on the position,andlliave been ; instructed to leave the agenda paper as 'placed before you, and request you give /us your roply in March. If you want ; anyinformation in regard to the new proiposals, the general secretary will give it :to you.' The Minister said: 'I would ; sooner have the opinions of these gentle:men.' To which the president 'replied: ■ 'They a.renot prepared to give them to. i you to-day.' . ■ "With.-regardl to the suggestion that a ground-table conference should be ariranged to further discuss the proposals, i I have to state that the Hon. W H. J-Hemes, Minister of Railways, and the J General Manager of Railways, would be '.quite willing to meet your council on Monday, 9th June, at 3 p.m., if that 'date and time' are suitable to the council. The questions for discussion being matters that affect the Railway Depart'irient, which is under the control of the Hon. Minister of Railways, he will of course, as usual in such cases, preside at the meeting. A little reflection will, I have no doubt, convince you that another Minister of the Crown, could not permit (himself to ba placed in a false position [by presiding over a. meeting held for the ..purpose of reviewing the decision of a I colleague concerning that colleague's adI ministration of his own Department. "With reference to the application' of /the 44-hour week, I would point out that (this applies strictly to the various workI shops, and not to the running sections of fthe maintenance, locomotive, or traffic '(branches. T have the honour "to be, Tour obedient servant, ; ;(Sgd.) J. 'ALLEN, / Acting-Prime Minister."