RAILWAY EMPLOYES MEETING.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1992, 13 July 1880, Page 4

RAILWAY EMPLOYES MEETING.

A meeting of railway employes was held yesterday afternoon in the waggon shed to consider the proposed reduction of 10 per cent, in their wages as notified to them. A meeting had been held on Saturday last, at which a petition was framed to the Government on the subject, but some objection had been made to the first clause, which stated that the men were not receiving their full rate of wages according to engagement. This was found not to apply to the whole of the men but only to individual cases. The petition bad been considered at a recent meeting, but it bad been pointed out that the first clause was not correct. It was therefore thought better that the petition should he amended. Of course if the petition were found to be in.correct, then it would go against the men, A speaker suggested that the petition should mad from the Amberley—Palmerston section instead of the Amberley—Kingston section, as they had no signatures from the southern portion, such as Dunedin and stations South. Again, it said that the petition represented that of the committee and not of the whole men. He should like to see the words—“ The petition of the whole of the men working on the Amberley—Palmerston section.” Again, it said tbat the men objected to a tax being put on their earnings unless the whole of the community shared therein. This was contradictory, as they objected to the reduction in <me place, and in the other they said they had no objection provided the reduction was shared by all the people. He would like to move an addition, pointing out tbat the men on the Amberley—Palmerston line were earning 10 per cent, less than the men on the ether sections. After some discussion it was moved—“ That the petition bo referred back to the committee for reconsideration.” This was carried, and the meeting adjourned. At a subsequent meeting of the committee held in the evening the petition was further considered with a view to making the amendments suggested, and was finally adopted, as follows: “ We, the undersigned, the employes in the engineering, permanent way, and traffic departments on part of the Amberley-Kingston section of the Hew Zealand Railways, after a number of meetings held on the subject now before your honorable House, namely, re the reduction in the rate of wages, offer for your careful consideration the following resolutions and statements of facts as to why we should be exempted from such proposed reduction. “ That we, as workmen on part of the Am-berley-Kingston section of the Hew Zealand Railways, deplore the action of the Government in the proposed matter of the reduction in wages, as we feel assured that we are receiving but a fair remuneration, and in a number of cases below the average, and that such a reduction is so much an income tax upon our labor, an income tax which the whole community should share. “That the rate of wages varies in the different par’s of the colony. “To the fact that your petitioners are the lowest paid body employed on the Haw Zealand railways. “ Your petitioners beg most respectfully to submit to your notice the fact that the results of your petitioners’ labor are greater in comparison to the amount of wages paid than in other parts of the colony. “That the wages paid do not in any case exceed the amounts given in tho other Australasian colonies for the same classes of labor, but in many instances far less. “ That we confidently submit to your notice that, as a body of workmen, we are equal in ability to any in the Australasian colonies. “ That many of our number who have come here to settle may find ourselves induced to go to the neighboring colonies, where the rates of wages are higher. “That we respectfully request that you would investigate the rates of wages paid to railway employes throughout tho colony.” “ That wo respectfully request you will fix one systematic rate of wages throughout the colony to railway employes. “ That your petitioners beg especially to draw tho attention of your honorable House to the fact that while the rate of wages is uo more the cost of living is greater here than in any other colony. “ That many of your petitioners are not now receiving the full complement of their pay as represented upon engagement. “ Tour petitioners would therefore respectfully request that your honorable House will investigate their case, and afford them that meed of justice which is your high prerogative, so that our present wages, which are barely sufficient already for the decent maintenance of ourselves, our wives, and families, may undergo no further reduction.”