RAILWAY CRISIS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1920, Page 3

RAILWAY CRISIS.

PERSISTENT RUMOURS THAT LOCO. MEN WILL STOT WORK. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The “New Zealand Times” this morning says that persistent rumours are on foot of a railway strike. Officials of the unions would give no information, but early this morning it was stated that the loco, men would leave work at midnight to-night.

LOCOMOTIVE MEN. IN NORTH ISLAND. TO CEASE WORK. WELLINGTON, This Day. It is announced that the locomotive men on the North Island Railways will cease work at midnight to-night.

STRIKE CONFIRMED. TO STRIKE AT MIDNIGHT. TRAINS FINISH JOURNEY. PALMERSTON N~ This Day. It is authoritively announced here that members of the Engine-drivers, Firemcn’is and Gleaners’ Association cease work his evening, pending a settle ment of the dispute. Although a strike will be declared at mid-night, the trains will not stop at that time. Irrespective where they might be, all starting after mid-night run to their destinations. Passengers who embark after that time do so at their own risk.

The main trunk express leaving Auckland runs as usual to Wellington. Similarly the express from Wellington to Auckland will complete its journey. . . The men declare their wage is mauequnte, and the conditions of their labour, especially the long hours, cannot continue much longer. What the attitude taken up is is not- known. Meet ings are being held throughout the Dominion at mid-day. The first division is not likely to be affected. ... A prominent member informed a “Standard” reporter that there is a considerable amount of sympathy witn the men of other divisions, adding significantly: “So have the wharf lumpers and the police.” ' *’ The decision of the meeting at nm - day must be endorsed by headquarters. Local members of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants state emphatically that they favoured coming ouU EXECUTIVE'S STATEMENT.

WELLINGTON ,This Day. The statement of the Executive ot the Council of Loco Engine-drivers, Fire men and Cleaner’s Association announces that the locomotive men have decided to cease work at mid-night on the •27th, because they are in receipt of wages which have the lowest purchasing power of any men employed in similar work in the English speaking world. Every means have been exhausted by the Executive Council to bring about an amicable settlement, and which has been' persistently represented to the Manager, the Minister of Railways and Parliament during the last ten years. The men were most militant twelve months ago, and the Executive Council held the position until this year. M lien the decision of the Board went out to the mini, this was taken vc-ij soil **\ the men, The Executive still held the mm, pending further representations lo the Minister. When the last letter was received by the Executive from the Minister, the Executive Council sent tho whole matter to the branches to call urgent meetings on Sunday 2otn. The ‘Executive Council intimated m i s correspondence that it had done all it could, and exhausted all means m its j power. It was also intimated to the men that the Department refused the delegates leave to come to Wellington to consider the position on the 21st. If this bau been agreed to at all costs the Executive felt sure that the position won hi have been still safe. However, the meetings held throughout New Zenlind were the largest and most extraordinary in the history of the Railways. The unanimous instruction of the branches was that the Executive Council instruct-all branches to cease w-rh immediately. The Council had placed themselves unreservedly in the hands of the brancho: and to abide by their decisions. There lias been no pre-determinot

ction in striking at this particular j tincture and such things had 1 ever ccurred to the Executive. I Tlie refusal of leave, coupled v4h I he letter sent in reply to the last re- | iresentation of the lExecutive to the Minister had goaded the men into heir present action. The Executive Council asked the Minister to read the evidence of the Hoard and give a reply by the 21st., if possible . I It must be explained here that this Union put up no case for an increase due to the cost of living, but solely from the point of view that the locomotive men in New Zealand were not being paid wages equal to the world s standard for locomotive men throughout the 'English speaking world. The Minister’s reply was by letter, and referred to the setting up of another Board to go into the cost of living. The locomotive men’s case was hereby ignored. The Minister left Wellington the same day as the Executive Council received his letter. Ihe position was serious, and had been so advised repeatedly for the last twelve months, over since he was advised of a unanimous vote of the loco men (taken in May, 15)19). RAILWAY OFFICERS’ MOTION. The following motion was passed bv the. Wellington brand of N.Z. Railway Officers’ Institute las’ night:—“We are astonished to lean that Hon. Mr Massey has failed t< grasp the fact that Justice Stringerfindings with reference to the claim placed before the Wages Board, on hr half of railway officers, are totally in adequate to meet the reasonable de mamls made, and consider that any nei proposals based on those findings ca only tend to prolong and intensify tli trouble. We deplore the fact that

vernment failed to deal with the claim? in a practical and' sympathetic manner. We have no confidence in and absolutely • refuse to recognise the Commission now proposed by Hon. Mr. Massey, and which we firmly believe is merely a further attempt to side-track the whole business. The meeting considers the Minister’s reply tantamount to a termination of amicable'negotiations, and requests the Executive to obtain legal opinion .as to the application of the Labour Disputes Investigation Act with a view to having the present dispute heard before a ti ■- bunal appointed under that Act.’’