CHANGED POLICY.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1925, Page 3

CHANGED POLICY.

R A lIAY AY MEX AND Till' MINISTER.

WELLINGTON. June I

At a recent interview between the Executive Council of the Amalgamated Society of Railway-men ami the Hon .1. <;. ( oatvs, in bis capacity as Minister of Railways, the changed policy of the railwavmen's orgaiisiatiou was the snh-)(-ct on an important statement by tho newly-elected president, Mr R. Hampton. !l is sunim -d up in the words, “Helpful co-operation, not antngon-

Mr Hampton stated that he wished to make it clear to the Minister and management that the policy ol the new executive would not necessarily he antagonistic tu thorn. “It would he loolish,” he said, “for any body ol workers to take ttj> an entirely antagonistic attitude to those responsible for the working of the railways, and 1 want- to make it clear that so tar as our dealings with the Department are (om-ern-ed, or anv representations vv e make, that we wish to he regarded as co-oper-ators with the Department rather than fault-finders or enemies. That is the policy we will stand lor. The president of the railwavmen’s society also explained that as such an attitude might be regarded as a sign of weakness by those who thought that a Labour body in dealing with an employer was dealing with a natural enemy he and the executive would take tlie responsibility tor adopting a policy of i o-op. eration and helpfulness as against antagonism. On the othei bund he wished to make it quite cleat that they would not destitute to tight for principles for which they considered they should light. He suggested that wages and working conditions should he reviewed annually, and that Hie agreement determined by the board width followed the railway strike. which will have operated twelve months in August, should be reconsidered at that date.

Me ('nates exnres-ed pleasure at the statement, adding: "I we can amalgamate Imlli sides, the Minister. Board and the society, and tollow out that policy, we can give the public "hat they are alter, a service which "ill of daily list* t «> them. e have t<> make ourselves indispensable to the puhlu. To do that it is essential that our conditions of work should he acceptable to all parties." The Minister agreed with the suggestion for periodical review of conditions, a process which would avoid the constant raising of grievances, and referring to the suggestion that the management might have a feeling of resentment over the men going on strike. Mr Coates replied: "I want you to get that out of your mind. So tar as I am coiuerned, and the Board, it is forgotten long ago. ami there is no feeling in anv action we may take, mine uhat-