RAILWAYMEN.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 March 1924, Page 4

RAILWAYMEN.

CASK BlCi'OiMi M'ACIvS BOARD. BY TP.I.KGUAI’Tt — -Pit ESS ASSN*., COPYRIGHT. AVKI.UNCTON, March 24. The Wages Hoard set up to investigate the questions relating to the pay and conditions of work in i-he railway service commenced its sittings to-day. .Mr ii. I). Acland (Christchurch) presided. The Minister of Railways aim the General Manager of Railways were present at the opening.

U) The silting is open to the press, 0x,.1 <-opt, for siirh port-ion as ,t is doc-i< !■:.■<! i s to fomli'.cL in committee. The first question debated was the ,(■ increase of 2s (id a day, sought hv the iC A.S.B.S. for its mouthers. Mr Conu, nolly. president of ihe A.S.K.S., said lc , that t!io Board was convened primarily , T as the result of the fail tiro of the 1:0d gotintions with the Minister, in regard to the wages (piestion. which was ol ,] paramount importance to the men, and e upon which they desired an early decision lie outlined the progress of the ,] representations made by Ihe Society to , r the Department, since the conference " of February 1923. There was growing dissatisfaction among railwaynien with ‘ 0 the present rate of wages, and eondiI tions of employment. Decent uegotiations had iKten broken up by the Snt ciety as it appeared that the Minister had no definite offer to make. ITe maintained that in consideration of the . rise in the cost of living, the men were „ entitled to an increase, and to a decent standard of living. At this stage of civilsaiton, man's reward should not he based upon what it cost to keep him but something higher. If the Dcpari- .. incut of any other employers of labour. wanted the best results, they must 1 offer some inducements for tho work- , ers to do their Itest in their particular industry. He pointed out the heavy responsibiltios of men employed in the carriage of passengers, and. of danger I to themselves on the road. He also referred to the hardships caused by the system of transfers, which prevented men from joining educational classes or clubs, or indulging in other socialities. Mr Connolly went on to deal with the ease of the Society in justification of the claim for the 2s (Id rise in the daily rate of wages. Mr Sterling, for the Railway Department, agreed that the men should have a decent standard of living and an incentive for good work. On general principles, he thought the parties’ were as one, and he complimented Mr Connolly on the case lie liad put up, and the lack of bitterness with which lie had presented it. Mr Sterling, Second-Assistant General Manager, stated at the meeting of the Railway Wages Board, that the Xew Zealand railways compared fuv- j otirlv with other similar industries in j the matter of pay. The 1.4 hours’ J week was costing the Department £53- ! 000 more than the 48 hours’ week did. ! Xo other railway system was working the shorter hours, except that of Queensland, and then only the workshops’ hands. He suggested going back to the 48 hours’ and did not think it would mean a reduction in the staff. The increase in wages had been considerably more than that of the ~ cost of living. In 1923, the increase * represented 75 per cent., on 1914, and sG.per.cent,, over that of 1919. Mr M. j. Mack, said he feared the Arbitration system was being tested.

and ho hoped! it would not fail, as lie depreciated the use of strength. He stated that the average number of children in a railwayman’s family was four, and the cost of the household was £4 19s 7d per week, and the men should have a fair standard of living. After further discussian, Mr Mack said the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants had definitely made tip its mind not to agree to the extension of the hours from 44 to 4S, no matter, what the result of the conference might be. The Board resumes to-morrow.