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Hokitika Guardian, 17 March 1920, Page 2

In reviewing the position as affecting the increase of pay to the rail way men, Mr Massey, Prime Minister, went on to say'. “J wish to state definitely my conviction that the department has every sympathy with the aspirations of the railwayman to improve their position, so long as the negotiations are, conducted in a reasonable and constitutional way. That the Government is •likewise .sympathetically disposed towards tlie service is shown by the im_ provements that have in the past been made in the rates of pay and working conditions for many years. The men have regularly negotiated in turn with successive Ministers for Railways, successive Governments, and departmental administrative officers. They have also exercised their rights and petitioned Parliament, but were still dissatisfied. Accordingly at the request of a section of the staff a board was set up to make investigations. This hoard was presided over by His Honour, Mr Jus tire Stringer, a gentleman who has a wide knowledge of labour conditions throughout the Dominion. Associated with him were two members having technical knowledge of working eondi— j tions and rates of pay. One gentleman represented the department, the other represented that section of the railway . service whose case was being dealt with.

The decision was left, entirely in the hands of His Honour Mr Justice Stringer. who for the purpose of the inquiry occupied a unique position, lie was absolutely independent, and brought to hear on the case a trained and impartial mind. Judge Stringer’s report is now tile subject of adverse criticism by some of the men for whose benefit the board over which he presided was set up. Surely, every thinking mom

ber of the community will agree with me in saying that the' time“ has now arrived when a pause must be called, and the 'whole position seriously considered. The pre-war rates for p a ssen ger traffic have already been materially increased, and an impost of 21 per cent has been levied in respect to tho bulk of the goods traffic. In order to stabilise the finances of the Railway Department and meet the further increase in wages and salaries recommended in Judge Stringer’s report, and the very serious advance in prices .of all railway material and stores a further increase of 4 per cent will require to be made >n fares and rates. The Government is exceedingly anxious to do everything possible for the members of the public service, whether in the railway or 'll any other department, but at a time like this, following the cessation of war expenditure, we must look forward to a period of considerable financial stringency, and in consequence require to be more than usually careful.” In connection with the foregoing matter a good deal of sympathy must be felt for the Government which has to submit to much pressure when such subjects come up for decision. It lias to

be remembered, and the public "'ill do well to bear tlie fact in mind, that the

Government is dealing with public funds, and it is the money of the .public which is being used to meet the demands of this and a similar nature now being strongly pressed. The Government stands as trustee, and has to deal with the question as affecting both sides. If increases are granted the extra money has to be found elsewhere, and .the burden is passed on. The Government has a nice task to deal with the complexities of the position, and on that account there must be a measure of sympathy felt, if not expressed, for them. At the same time we do not know that it can he conceded that the Government has taken always the strictly impartial attitude it should. There have been demands made on the Government from more ' influential quarters, which have been far too readily acquiesced in, and the people to-dav are carrying the burden in various commodities affecting the cost of living. Indeed, it was the generous and ready manner in which concessions were made in other quarters which has led up to the many requests > for ■ increases now pouring in. As regards the pay of the railwaymen, their ease does, not appear to have been fully covered by Judge Stringer’s enquiry. Tliere were subjects outside the order of reference not dealt with. These should be enquired into certainly and a fair thing done by the men, but their hints at direct action is not the way to go 1 about the matter —it would he the j most direct means of alienating the i public sympathy, and without that their cause is hopeless.