THE RAILWAY STRIKE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2336, 28 September 1881, Page 3

THE RAILWAY STRIKE.

This morning, at half-past ten o’clock, the Hon. E. Biohardson, Messrs 8. P. Andrews, M.H.8., H. Thomson, W. White, jnn., and J. Joyce met the men on strike at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Montreal street south, Mr Joyce stated that, in company with the Hon, E. Biohardson and the other gentlemen, he was present to hear a statement of the grievances of the men on strike. He was sure these gentlemen would answer any questions, but he must tell them they were laboring under many mistakes, which he felt sura they would acknowledge before they separated. As time was of importance, perhaps the Hon. E. Biohardson would address them first. The Hon. B. Biohardson remarked that the men would remember he had taken some interest in the question of reduction of wages a year ago. Some of those he saw before him had then waited upon him on his return from Wellington on the subject. He had read what they said in the papers, and ho was certain a great deal of misapprehension existed in their minds on the subject. If those present who waited on him last year would remember he said that he bad spoken against the 10 per cent, reduction in the House, and the Minister of Public Works reconsidered the question, and instructions were given to ascertain the rate of wages paid by outside shops, and no man in the Government shops was to be paid more, but the rate paid in the Government shops was to be assimilated to those outside, and in no ease to be higher. He was told then that meant a reduction of 6d per day, and in some oases an increase. Whilst these reductions affected Addington slightly,in Otago it meant 15 or 20 per cent. He thought, judging from what he read, that the rates paid in the Addington shops were not the same as those paid outside, and he must say their duty was not to strike, but first to report to their superior officer, and if they got no redress, then to communicate with the Minister of Public Works, and if need be, to have come to him or to Mr Andrews, and they would have got it sot right. If the newspaper reports were correct, their application for an advance of wages was accompanied with a threat. Now, in their calmer moments, they would see that was wrong. Any employer should be approached with respect. If these reports were right, he thought they should confess they had done wrong in threatening. They should have persisted in asking for an enquiry. And even now, if they respectfully asked for an enquiry to set the wrong right, to see if the instructions of the Government had been properly carried out, he believed it would be done. They must know the Government would not not pay more than the current rate of wages outside, and he thought that they were still prepared to pay as full rates as paid outside. He should be very happy to answer any questions and give thorn any advice in his power. In reply to questions, the hon. gentleman said he was not in any degree a relative of Mr Alison D. Smith, nor was he a shareholder in the Springfield colliery or of any coal mining company. He failed to see the bearing of this question on the difficulty. Once he held some shares in tho company formed to develop the coal deposits at Greymouth. Mr Joyce said he had asked Mr H. Thomson to come with the Sydenham Councillors and the other gentlemen to meet them, and had done so out of no disrespect to the Mayor of Christchurch, but on account of Mr Thomson’s railway knowledge. Mr H. Thomson, alter a few preliminary remarks, said his connection with railways dated from 1846, when he was a paymaster at Crewe. He felt in a difficulty, as ho would like to do his colleagues in the City Council justice. He had left

' the Council Chamber to go to the Theatre just as the deputation reached the door, and he was now present as a private individual, but he felt sure that the Council would have taken up this question if they had been asked in a right way, for the men could not expect that body to espouse their cause against an unheard individual. He thought the deputation should have drawn up a clear statement of their case, putting down all the reductions and advances made. Ho thought the newspaper accounts very contradictory. He thought the report that had appeared in a certain newspaper at an early date was not true. He did not think the men round him would go out on a senseless strike if they had no reason, and if the reasons had been laid before the proper quarter it would have been attended to. He did not believe blindly in the Hon. John Hall, but he was sure he would not wrong them. Of course that gentleman had to go by what was put before him, and he (the speaker) would strongly urge that some methoa be adopted by which an inquiry should be held. The bold faces he saw before him, he felt sure, would not be afraid of any inquiry. [“ No ," and " That is what we wont.”] Ho thought some of their statements were strained, but it was quite certain a big reduction had been made. They had gone beyond fear, and therefore let their information bo straightforward and aboveboard. If they were in the right the public would see that justice was done them, and they must tell the truth about those they looked upon as their natural enemies. If they thought Mr Alison Smith had cot done them justice, let them demand an inquiry, and a Commission would bo appointed. They had a perfect right to expect justice, and would get it. Ho should regret to see such specimens of the backbone of the place leave it. Ha would be sorry to think that anything of a public or private nature should cause them to be compelled to such a course. One man said they were compelled to the course to force the thing through. A representation was sent in three months ago and never forwarded to Wellington, and the men in question had to leave the colony and were getting 15 per cent, more wages. As regarded the wages paid in outside shops, they were reduced after the Government had set the example. At the present time Messrs Duncan and Scott were paying 12s a day to men whoso equals were paid 9s 6i a day in the Addington shops. The Hon. B. Richardson said if that was correct let them ask for an inquiry at once in a respectful way, and it would be granted. He regretted to see such a body of men out of work, and he hoped they would drop the past and start afresh, and lose no time in seeing the Hon. John Hall. In reply to further questions, Mr Richardson said it was not likely the Government would act with them, as in the telegraph strike, but let them leave that alone and fight their own battle, only going about it in a sensible way. Mr S. P. Andrews, M.H.8., thought the matter could yet be arranged. Mr Hall was under the impression they were paid as the men outside were. He regretted that no response to an application had caused good men to leave the colony, and could assure them that if either Mr Richardson or himself had known that a letter had been concealed by an official it would have been seen into. He was certain the Hon. John Hell would consider the matter fully, and receive their deputation. They had a clear case, and if it was proved a grievance, the Premier or anyone else dared not go beyond ths expression of public opinion. He thought all could be arrange), and a clear line laid down for the future. All were not equally injured, but to prevent any men being specially marked, all had “ turned out." flit was a sorry thing they had been driven into a strike, and had the members of the House known it the suppressed letter would have been demanded, but retrospect was now of no avail. Let them wait a day or two and interview the Hon. John Hall. He was certain that gentleman would grant them a hearing. He would urge them to appoint a deputation, and Mr Hall would not allow them to leave the country in the present state of the labor market. Let them put their questions in writing and get his answers, and an impartial commission would be appointed and such inquiries made as would prevent them leaving this prosperous colony. An artisan here said it was useless to institute comparisons with the outside labor market in Christchurch and the Addington shops, as the cases were so different. The only outside locomotive factory was at the Phcenix Foundry, Ballarat, where the wages ranged from 10s to 12s per day. A letter had been recently received from there, announcing that the Addington men could get plenty of work there. For some time past he and other employes considered Mr Alison Smith’s action precluded all hope of redress. Mr H. Thomson remarked that strikes had not paid in England. He thought if a similar course to that adopted in the Newcastle strike, when Mr Mundella was called in as arbitrator, were adopted, it would be well. Would the men be prepared to resume work at <he old rate whilst the commission was pending ? [Loud cries of “ No!”] The men asked if Mr Thomson had forgotten they were never to be again employed, Mr Thomson—Oh, that will be pitched into the waste paper basket. The men unanimously refused to bind themselves to the course suggested. A Voice —Will these gentlemen go with us to the Premier ? Hon. E. Richardson—Wo will.

Mr Joyce asked them to bo careful to select a good deputation, so that they wouldn't [say afterwards, “Oh, they have sold us.” A Voice—There is only one rat amongst seventy, and he calls himself an Englishman.

Hon. E. Biohardson then said—l will telegraph to tho Minister of Public Works directly, asking when he will receive the deputation. It was then agreed—“ That a deputation be at once selected to wait on the Hon. Jobs Hall in company with the gentlemen now present.” A hearty vote of thanks to the visitors was carried by acclamation, and suitably acknowledged by the Hon. E. Bichardson, and those gentlemen having withdrawn, the men on strike immediately went into committee to select the deputation.

The following schedule of wages hag been furnished by the men on strike : In the fitting department under the old system there were six at lls and eight at 10s a day. By the new scale two of the former were reduced to 10s 6d a day, two to 10a, and two to 9a 6d a day. Of the men at 10a per day three were not reduced, three were lowered to 9a 6d, and two to 9a. Since the reduction one new man has been taken on at 9a 6d per day. One of the men formerly receiving 10a haa had his pay raised to 10s fid on account of bis having been advanced to tho more responsible position of chargeman. In the machine shop, under the old system, one man received lls per day, one 10s, one 9s, and two 8s per day. The new Beale reduced these men to 9a fid, 9a, Ba, and 7s respectively. Tho man who was reduced to 9s has since had his wages raised to 9s fid per day. The man reduced to 8s has been raised to 8s fid. One of those reduced to 7s has since been raised to 7a fid. Two additional men have been taken on, one at 8a and the other at 7s per day. In the smith’s department, under the old scale, eleven men were employed at lls per day ; seven of these were reduced to 10a fid, and four to 10a per day ; one man, formerly receiving 10a a day, had his wages reduced to 9s fid ; four additional men have aince been taken on, one at 10a, and three at 9a fid a day. Under the old system, sixteen strikers were employed at 8s a day ; twelve of these were reduced to 7s fid a day, and four to 7s a day. Four fresh men have since been taken on—throe at 7s, and one at 6a a day. The following is a copy of the men’s application for an increase of wages : To Mr Bankin.

We, the undersigned, workmen employed in your department, respectfully apply for an increase of wages. We beg to bring before your notice that a, 10 per cent, reduction was urged as being necessary for the interest of the colony; that this was afterwards altered to a scale which represented more; that as no reduction of wages took place in private firms until after the Government were regulating the price of the labor market; that similar work not being done in any other part of the colony, the Government have no precedent by which to rule the price of labor; that in sister colonies where similar work is done, the price of lafco»r is 15 per cent, more than is now paid in your department, while the household expenses are 20 per cent, less; that the civil servants having received restitution, and we having submitted to a heavy reduction in times of embarrassment, bog now, in more prosperous times, that we may receive a 10 per cent, increase, having, we humbly submit, proved ourselves worthy of it as any servants in the Government employ, and we respectfully submit that should this not meet your approbation, yon will receive this as a week’s notice, and we cease work on Satnr day.

[Here follow the signatures.