RAILWAY WORKERS’ RESOLUTIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 23685, 19 September 1940, Page 5

RAILWAY WORKERS’ RESOLUTIONS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —1 fail to see how “ Efficiency ” conceives the idea that employees at the railway workshops are not railway workers. If “ Efficiency ” was to apply for a position in the workshops he would have to forward his application to the General Manager, New Zealand Railways, so 1 think the employees' must certainly be railway workers. He also contends that they are not entitled to the free passes they receive. That statement is really absurd, otherwise we should have to charge the employees in the railway workshops with receiving under false pretences.. I can introdime “ Efficiency ” to someone who has received a free pass every year for the past 40 years and has never once been' informed" that he was not entitled to it. “ Efficiency ” also asks “ what about the Railwaymen’s Purchasing Association ? ” Does he forget that there is also a Public Service ami a Returned Soldiers’ Purchasing Association? He does not live up to his iiom de .plume, otherwise he would know that any worker is entitled to become a member of the Railwaymen’s Purchasing Association, no. matter where he is employed. Rule 2 in the book of rules issued by the association distinctly reads; “All workers shall be eligible for membership.” The association has a membership of 6,4.00, and has paid in discount £3,500 in four months to its members. “ Efficiency ” is quite entitled to join and participate in this distribution if be wants to. His suggestion that this association “ would mean "eventually the closing down of several retail establishments ” is not quite sound, as the association has been ' operating for the past 27 yeai’s, and has not hindered the retail shops during that period. Also,_ if “ Efficiency ” would have a chat with one or two employees from the railway workshops he would find that a number of workers have left at different times to take more highly paid positions outside.—l am, etc., Democrat. September 19.