N.Z. RAILWAYMEN

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1931, Page 6

N.Z. RAILWAYMEN

ON WACE CUTTING. (By Tclcijrayh —Per Press Association) WELM'NGTON, February 2. xno biennial conference of the Amalgamated Society of Hallway Servants opened to-day. The following resolu-

tion was passed : "That this conference of the A.S.H.S. takes ihe strongest possible exception to the wage-reducing campaign that is being carried on throughout the country, which, if brought into operation must impair industrial efficiency, reduce pnrhasing power and thus further impoverish the whole community, further, we draw the attention ol the Government to the madness of wage-

smashing, which must aimost inevitably be followed by the partial destruction of our farmers’ valuable home market, and an incalculable loss of national wealth ; and we would impress on

...o Government the necessity of retaining widespread purchasing power

to maintain national prosperity; and urge that, should the Government desire an improvement in the finances ol die country, such further revenue shouht be obtained by a tax on the large incomes on a graduated scale.” A further resolution passed by the A.S.H.S. Conference is as follows:

“That the Government be urged to writing down railway capital, in order to place the Department on a sounder financial footing and also to remove the handicap of ‘dead’ caital, which should have been written off many years ago, if a proper system of deprecation had been followed in the past.”

The Conference also resolved

“ I hat, ill the face of the proved wastefulness and loss to the community of the present uncontrolled competition between the road and railway transport services, this Conference expresses its regret at the failure of the Government to comply with the re-

fpiest of our organisation, supported more recently by the road transport interests, that legislation for the proper, regulation of these services and coordination between road and rail Facilities has not yet been passed by Parliament, for we are of the opinion that the national losses due to lack of regulation are accentuating the present economic difficulties, and constitute a most serious factor in preventing the community’s railway system from showing tin* true financial results for the national service that it is rendering.”

It was resolved :—“That in view ol the urgent necessity to remove the anomalies and deficiencies in the present system of worker’s compensation lor accidents, tin* Government be strongly urged again to introduce the Workers’ Compensation Act Amendment of last session with the object of its early adoption.”