THE RAILWAY STRIKE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2340, 3 October 1881, Page 3

THE RAILWAY STRIKE.

A public meeting was held in the Oddfellows’ Hall,Lichfield street,on Saturday evening, at half-past seven o’clock, to lay before the public the grievances of the railway workmen, to challenge the official statements, and to press for an impartial inquiry into their case. The Mayor of Christchurch occupied the chair. On the platform were—The Hon. E. Richardson, Messrs T. 8. Weston and 8. P. Andrews, M.H.R.’s, H. Thomson, W. White, jun., J. Joyce, and several of the delegatee. The hail was crowded, many present being obliged to stand. The Mayor announced the object of the meeting, and stated that he considered it pertaining to his duties to preside at public meet ings in the city. Ho would call upon Mr Barnehaw to address them. Mr Earnshaw said that he doubted his ability to lay the matter so forcibly before them as men more accustomed to public speaking might do. Be regretted the necessity of such a meeting to hear their grievances, but it was owing to the action taken by Mr A. D. Smith and Mr Maxwell that they came to the public to-night. The speaker reviewed the circumstances attending the reduction in the scale of pay, which have already been published. Some time ago Mr A. D. Smith boasted that he had a staff of men amongst whom not one inferior workman was to be found, stating further that if they left they could not be replaced, and that it would be an injustice to them to enforce the 10 per cent. reduction. This was said at the time when Messrs Smith and Conyers were hanging in the balance, and the former gentleman thought the help of the employes was worth having. They were then promised that no man should be reduced more than 6d a day ; but that promise had been broken, and the reduction as imposed averaged upwards of 9 per cent. This was no random statement; he had figures to prove it, and it was a well-known truism that figures could not lie. In support of his statement ho would read a comparative scale of wages (as already published in the papers). Now, ho contended that either the figures he had adduced, or else those of Messrs Smith and Mair?oll, wore incorrect. If his were wrong, he wished to be set right; but if, as he contended, the others were wrong, then he and the men who were with him wanted them set right, [Cheers, and a voice—“ You won’t get it. I ’] He had told Mr A. D. Smith that bis action would drive the beet men out of tho shop, and that gentleman replied, “ Ah but can they get out?” [Hisses, cheers, : ond uproar.] Mr Bitoliff, one of the delegates, here stepped to the front of the platform, _ and asked that the meeting be conducted in an orderly manner, so that it might be known if

they had to leave the colony they would not be succeeded by a more respectable body of men. [Cheers.] Mr Earnshaw continued—The locomotive superintendent had disorganised the department, and was unfitted to wield a body o' workmen, going about the shops telling one man one thing and another man another thing. Even as a locomotive instructor he was quite out of his element, and it was necessary for the welfare and progress of the Bailway Department that he should be removed from his office. The result of the interview with Mr Maxwell was simply to continue the programme of Mr Smith. The statement that eighteen men out of thirtytwo in the fitters’ department had not been reduced woe wilfully false and untrue. He spoke advisedly. He denied in toto Mr Maxwell’s statement that the Government intended to pay higher rates than those outside. The men did not consider they were asking for an advance of wages, they were only asking to be placed on the same footing as the outside labor market rates, and that was whv they were there to.uight. If they were asking for exceptional rates, then they would have “no case;’’ they wanted to be paid no more than outside artisans got, and that they held they were entitled to. It was said that their places would be filled. That might be, but one thing was certain, a lot of men who had been taken on were discharged, and no wonder, for some of them were fish hawkers. [Laughter.] He would conclude by remarking that it would not bo a creditable thing if they had to leave these shores in search of work. He had heard that immigration would be resumed, but he thought that when the news went home that thirtyfive families who had reared homes here hod to leave these shores for the reasons stated, it would deter immigration, and be a blot on the colony of New Zealand.

Mr Milner said that he had worked at railway works for twenty-one years, and knew what it was. Mr Macdonald, the locomotive foreman at Auckland, knew what work and men were, but Mr A. D. Smith only wanted dummies. Not long since he brought a man to him in the Addington shops, and asked him to show the new comer how to do his work, but [Here the speaker’s thoughts came too rapidly for articulation, and he resumed his seat amidst laughter.] Mr BUcliffe objected to this being called a strike. That meant a man throwing down his hammer and going out at once. They strove to get redress in other ways, but as it bad failed, they hoped to get it by the signed papers. He hoped for justice from the Minister for Public Works, as he was certain that the information given that gentleman was unreliable, and he was led to believe the rates paid in the Government workshops were the same as those paid outside. In common with the other men he took the rednoed rate at a time when the Government had to retrench, but now that other Government employes were getting the 10 per cent, returned to them, he contended that the men employed at the Government workshops had an equal right to it. When the colony needed it the men cheerfully submitted, and gave up what represented the socks for their children's feet, or the milk at their breakfast and supper tables; and now the colony oould afford it, they asked for it back again. He wished no heads of departments removed, but be did want such enquiries made as would result in justice beiug done to the men of whom he was one. [Cheers.] The Hon. E. Biobardson said that he was present on this occasion at the special request of a deputation. He attended their meeting in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Montreal street south, three days ago, and at their request had telegraphed to the Minister for Public Works with what result they knew. So far as he was concerned, matters stood in the same state, and he could not take any further action at present. The Hon. John Hall would be here in a few days, and then, he doubted not, the deputation would be received and listened to with attention. He had paid attention to what had been said this evening, and the temperate remarks of Mr Bitoliffe should bo attended to. That was the best advice he could give, and he premised that the present meeting was to farther their interview with the Hon. J. Hall. He would be glad to do all be oould to bring about a change for the better in affairs for them all.

Mr Earnshaw then moved —“ That the data adduced being at variance with representation by Mr Maxwell of the scale of pay, it is respectfully urged upon the Minister for Public Works to grant an immediate enquiry, and, if needful, a Board of arbitrators be appointed to settle the present dispute." Mr Bitoliffe seconded the motion.

Mr 8. P. Andrews, M.H.8., said the words used by his colleague, Mr Richardson, bad almost left him nothing to say. As he promised the men on strike on Wednesday, so he would act, and go with them to the Hon. John Hall. He did not think any confusion need result from what Mr Maxwell had said with regard to his junior officer (Mr A. D. Smith). Every expression from the Premier led him to the belief that Mr Hall thought that the men were in receipt of the same rates as paid outside. That gentleman would listen to them, and if needs be they oonld ask him to grant arbitrators. From what he knew of Mr Hall, he was certain that he would do them justice. He deplored that on a recent occasion the men had said they would not go back till the affair was settled. (Mr Earnsbaw said the men would resume work at once if arbitrators were appointed). He was glad to hear that, and felt that some good had resulted from his speaking on this occasion. Their resolve proved that they were not fighting the affair on strike, but acting like sensible men. [Hear, hear.]

Mr H. Thomson would not draw back if he could be of any use. He was glad to bear that the men would resume work if arbitrators were appointed, and he only regretted that they had not done so three days ago, as possibly Mr Maxwell’s reply might have been different. He slightly differed from the two members for Christchurch, and thought the matter had gone'.beyond;the deputation, and he hoped the meeting would affirm the resolu. tion, as that would strengthen the position. From what he had heard, he thought it necessary that a thorough inquiry should be held to prevent the recurrence of a like misfortune, After looking at both sides he felt that the reduction made had been greater than the Railway Department would admit. Ho knew this, that Is 6d taken from 10s meant more than 5 per cent. [Hear, hear.] The sooner a reconstruction took place the better, and the suggested inquiry was just the thing to set the matter right. He would suggest that the Hon. B. Richardson and Mr 8. P. Andrews communicate with the Premier re the deputation and inquiry, and in fact take whatever steps were necessary. He cordially supported the resolution. [Cheers.] Mr T. 8. Weston, M. H.R., took great interest in the welfare of this colony, and also of the working classes, which those who know him in other parts of New Zealand would endorse. After a few remarks on the relative rights of capital and labor, he went on to say that he thought the working classes should be protected to the fullest extent. Whilst in office his hon. friend, Mr Richardson, had shed such lustre on the office he held that he was quite sure they could safely commit their interests to that gentleman. He would not go into the Addington differences; he was certain that the matter would be put on a proper footing. He regretted that the men had not gone back to work when the Hon. John Hall had promised them an inquiry; still he did not think it was too late. The difficulty was that others hod been employed, and the question was, could they, in justice to those men, be taken back? He was certain that the Premier would do them justice, as he was sure he desired to do justice to every one in the colony. He (Mr Weston) could not judge a case by hearing one side, but they had very ably put their case forward. He did not soy that they were right, and the Government had failed, but he did say that an inquiry was needed, and he thought in a little time they would be back at work again. He advised them to moot Mr Hall in a temperate manner, and if he (the speaker) could help them he would be very happy to do all he could for them. [Cheers] A person here mounted the platform and said that the charges against the head of the department were well founded, and as a ratepayer he thought Mr Smith’s blunder entailed a waste of public money. [As this speaker’s remarks showed great animus against Mr Smith, the meeting refused to hear him.] The Mayor then put the resolution, which was carried unanimously, nearly every hand in the hall being raised in its favour, amidst long- continued cheering. A vote of thanks to the Mayor and the gentlemen on the platform was then proposed, the seconder remarking that the thanks of the operatives were due to the gentlemen who gave up their time to help them, and he trusted, if they could not show it now, it would be shown hereafter. This motion was carried by acclamation, and the meeting 1 terminated.