TROUBLE ON A RAILWAY EXTENSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2410, 27 January 1909, Page 5

TROUBLE ON A RAILWAY EXTENSION.

D IS& ATLSFLEP 00 -OP E i IAT4 \' E ‘WORKERS. [PitEsa Association.] OH'RiIiSTC'HUJ ’CH, Jan. 20. At a meeting of co-operative workers employed on the Domett railway extension .works, held yesterday, the following resolution was carried unanimously—“ That this meeting indignantly resents the misleading statements of the Hon. R. .McKenzie, which wore published in the ‘‘Lyttelton Times” on January 21, regarding the length of time the co-opera-tive laborers lat Domett are kept waiting for their pay, 'but defer further action imtiil an official reply is received to the requests made by Mr. I!. A. Campbell to the Hon. D. Buddo.”

It was stated that a large tody of men had to wait lor their first pay from October G until [November 17. and that four men IVul to wait I’rom the third week in ’September until November 17 for their wages. Work performed .since December 12 would not be paid for until some time in February. It was also stated that when work was stopped at Christmas the Public Works- Department held ten days’ pay in hand, which would not he forthcoming until February. The meeting also passed the 101 l owing resolution —“That in view of the shabby and contemptible way, in which co-operative workers are treated on the Domett railway extension works, the time has now arrived when, it is .absolutely necessary to form ourselves into a union in order to .protect our own interests.” During the discussion, on the motion, it was stated that the live-rage wage earned on the line was not sufficient for a married man to live on; the accommodation for both married and singlo men was insufficient; and the branding of tlieir tents with a large broad arrow made their camp look more like a camp of convicts than of (free men. Men were compelled to sign contracts without having nny voice in the arranging of prices, and the officials cancelled these contracts without consulting tho worker. Strong exception was taken to compulsory holidays, and the twelve idle days during the Christmas holidays without pay. One married man stated thirt it would take him at least three months to.pay off tho debts which it .was necessary for him to incur during the enforced holidays. .At tho close of the meeting about 4.0 men gave in their names as members of the newly-formed union.

[The statement in the “Lyttelton Times” was as follows: —Tile Hon. R. .McKenzie .gives an emphatic denial to the statement made by Mr. 'Campbell to the Hon. D. Brnldo that the co-operative workers on the railway extension beyond Domett are sometimes not paid for seven or eight weeks. The engineer in charge of flic works reports, that- payments were made on [November 1G and December 17, when work ceased for the holidays. Work was resumed on January 4. The measurement takes place ou January 287 -Any man who is hard u,p cian get an advance or can give an order on the storekeeper. The Pe partmeut guarantees such orders up to £3.]