THE RAILWAY CRISIS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1924, Page 2

THE RAILWAY CRISIS

[by TELEGRAM —MR TRESS ASSOCIATION.]

MR COATES IN REPLY. WELLINGTON, April 10

The Postmaster-General made a statement to-day, replying to a circular issued by the Post and Telegraph Association, “To the average business man.” Their statement was headed “An Unfair Contract.”' The Minister points out that the public are led- to believe that the men are required under the reclassification scheme to tie themselves up for five years on terras which were only made known- at 1.0 moment of signing up. The Miidstcr explains once more that at the April 9th interview, he definitely promised the men’s executive that he wouM submit the schedules to them immediately lie got them back from C.«P>• net, and that, although approved hv Cabinet, the schedules would still he subject to alteration if the executive made out a good case for nmcndmecs. He adds that the. preliminary v.oru regarding reclassification commenced several months ago, ami that the preparation of the schedules meant revaluing all positions above the rank and file, and involved some 1500 p.nmotions. The Post and Telegraph classification list for 1 the past five years had been completed months ahead of any other list; and he had promised months ago to consult ti e Association before filing the seheduLs, and that promise will he kept. Further, the Executive, instead of a.ski lg if the schedules were ready before coming to Wellington, did not approach him on the matter till after they had been in Wellington a week.

P. AND T. BALLOT URGED. CHRISTCHURCH, April 1 i

A meeting of the North Canterbury Post and Telegraph Officers’ Asso'iition was held to-night, when the following resolutions were carried unanimously :

“That this meeting is of the opinion' that the Executive should expl, ic every avenue to secure a settlementsatisfactory to the membership; failing* which, steps to be immediately taken to ascertain the members (Ye!ings on a strike policy by ballot.” “That this meeting of tlu Xoith Canterbury Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association appreciates -:!c crforts made by those members of Parliament who are assisting the F,.vccutico in their endeavour to secure for the officers of the Post ami Tciegraph Department, a living wage. WELLINGTON, April 10

The Wellington section of the Post and Telegraph Officers’ Association at its annual meeting last night, passed the following resolution :—“That Hiis meeting urge the executive to explore every avenue along which they may proceed to secure an amicable sol tic ment before embarking on a strike ballot.”

It was stated to the meeting ihat the New Zealand Executive desired an expression of opinion on the matter.

MINISTER AND A.S.R.S. LEADERS. WELLINGTON. April 10.

Asked by a reporter this evening if there were any further developments in connection with the railway crisis, the Hon J. G. Coates, Minister for Railways, said that he had nothing to say except that he had received officially a reply from the A.S.R.S. to the communication sent them by the Cabinet, and that lie had a long conference that afternoon with the President of the A.S.R.S.. Mr M. Connelly, and the Secretary, Mr M. J. Mack. NOT ACCEPTED BY MASSEY. WELLINGTON. April 10. The Prime Minister has replied as follows to the offer to act arbitrator in tiic railway dispute telegraphed him by Mr H. E. I'folland. ALP., Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party: “Your telegram received. The Government. however, feel quite competent to deal with the position, which has arisen. A PROTEST. MALTON, April 10. The railwayman here "have resolved “That this large, representative meeting of the Second Division employees express its intense resentment at the action of the Department in adopting questionable methods of propaganda, and the circulating of the same in the form of official pamphlets of a misleading character, and in which political issues arc raised. Such action ran only serve to prove the weakness of the Department's case. The revulsion of feeling engendered by the issue at the hands of the official “brass hats” ol the said pamphlet can only re-act to the advantage of our organisation, the time has long passed when the members proved susceptible to this form ol official bluff and such methods are now offensive and intolerable among enlightened workers. The issues raised by the Department arc easily controversed, and we have every confidence in our Excutive’s ability to deal with them. Further, we are of the opinion that, in view of the fact that a highlypaid official of the Department is being used as a sort of town hell-man. that a reorganisation of the higher positions of the Department might he made in the interests of both efficiency and economy.”