LYTTELTON RAILWAY HANDS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1088, 24 December 1877, Page 3

LYTTELTON RAILWAY HANDS.

The hands employed at Lyttelton by the railway authorities were, some three or four weeks ago, asked to sign an engagement book, which contained the following printed form:—"l (name), being engaged as (occupation), this (date), upon the N.Z. Railways, do hereby bind myself to observe and obey the rules and regulations now in force thereon, copies of which I hare received, and all others that may from time to time be put in force so long as I remain a servant on them, in consideration of the amount named below as the rate of pay per week, such rate of pay to include all value of services rendered for overtime and Sunday work." The hands objected to sign the book, and forwarded the following petition to the Government: —"We, the undersigned, do most respectfully decline to sign the engagement book in its present form. Our chief objection is to Sunday work, which, if exacted, would practically deprive us of all liberty throughout the year. With regard to overtime on ordinary working days, we would in all cases of emergency or on special occasions render every assistance in our power, but would respectfully suggest that some limit should be placed on the amount of overtime required to be worked. This wo would submit is necessary, as if called upon to work an unlimited amount of overtime it will be impossible for us to satisfactorily perform our ordinary daily duties." The railway authorities refused to listen to the suggestions contained in the petition, or to alter the book in any way, and ; sent down word last week that the engagement book must be signed at once, and that j those refusing to do so would be dismissed.