RAILWAY DISMISSALS

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1931, Page 2

RAILWAY DISMISSALS

■RATIONING OF WORK. Mr coate’s denial. , [By Telegraph, Per Press Association. ■ ■ WELLINGTON, Dec. 21. • A denial that any statement - made hy him coud be interpreted an indicating that lie -would override' the Government Railways Board concernjing the rating of work among the railway employees, as the alternative to dismissals, was made by the Minister of.' Public Works, Mr Coates, this evening,., when he replied to the assertions • made at the mass meeting of the raihyaymen at the Addington Workshop last. week. ; About 200 members of . the Addington Branch of the Railway Tradesmen’s Association attended the meeting at which the protest was made against ,the indiscriminate retrenchment of the .long-term casual workers.

In a. letter read at that meeting, Mr S. Ingram, the General Secretary of the;Association,.said that.the Railway Board was opposed to the rationing of.wprk, hut that Mr Coates, realising'that there was absolutely nothing offering for the men outside, was jn favour of it as being the only, splution of the difficulty, attd that he had told'' Mr Ingram definitely, that the men could be saved only through agreeing to ration the work.

“It has been brought to my no-, tice ’that, the Secretary of the New Zealand.. Tradesmen’s '/Association has been reported in addressing is mem bers,l as'-have stated that Mr Coates has suggested tha he would override the Railway Board,” the Minister said, “I wish it to be clearly -understood that, as one of those who Lav-; ’ pured the Board system, I have made no such remark, and no intimation in /any-interview and no words of minn used vat any time could be so interpreted. I firmly believe that the Board is a sound system of control-, ing our railways. Also, it is far. from my "wish that anyone should in terpret remarks of mine to,, mean thaI am, in any way,or at any time,, desirous of unsurping the duties of . others. and particularly those of any colleagues of mine who administer a Department. .

It is .true that .Mr Ingram, Vwho has repeatedly sought, ah • interview j was advised by me, in the presence of a . state' official, .when, asking me' to make’provision for the men who were under notice, that, so difficult: was .the general financial position, that he might well place before liiay members ,an alternative to dismissals—namely that. of rationing some of-the - work, t was * unable to lnlptm l Mr, Ingram whether the Minister, the. Board, or' the . Management