THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE KAIPARA ADVERTISER & WAITEMATA CHRONICLE." HELENSVILLE, THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1916 RAILWAY EMPLOYEES' DEMANDS. A MILITARY SHOW NIGHT

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 2 March 1916, Page 2

THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE KAIPARA ADVERTISER & WAITEMATA CHRONICLE." HELENSVILLE, THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1916 RAILWAY EMPLOYEES' DEMANDS. A MILITARY SHOW NIGHT

We have several times daring the past fortnight been asked our opinion regarding the latest demands of the Railway employees. To say the least, we think it a very unfortunate occurrence at this period of war, blood, and murder, and the enormous expense entailed by the New Zealand Government in its efforts to help the .Mother Country all impossibly can, that any attempt ,at labour disturbance and consequeat unpleasantness and friction should transpire.

The New Zealand Amalgamated Society of Kail way Servants are asking for an increase in pay, or a war bonus of one shilling per day, owing to the high rates of provisions and everyday requirements, but there are others besides railway servants who find themselves in the same position and as hard to make both ends meet with a little to spare. Others, again, workers of every description, haven't a hope of getting a shilling a week extra on their present pay, let alone a shilling a day. All are suffering alike through the present war trouble and tremendous expenses which are being piled up for 'the people to foot the bill in the end.

The Minister for Bail ways has stated that the increase of Is per day asked for would entail an addition annual expenditure of over ,£400,000. But that is not all. The men of the Newmarket branch of the Society come it a little stronger and are demanding an increase of 2s (two shillings) per day extra. Now, as Government, we.take it, cannot make fish of one set of workers and flesh of another, there could be no valid reason put forth why tlv^ post and telegraph, police, customs, and all other civil servants should not have a proportionate increase, which would redouble the present annual expenditure by at least one million pounds ! It has been suggested that the farming community, which is credited with making mints of money through the increase in wool and produce of almost every description, should bear an extra and special war tax, which would relieve the Government to a great extent. To this, of course, the farmers would strenuously object, as they now claim having to pay already an extra tax on their income. But whatever, the whole question of increase in wages these beastly war times, is a knotty question. We have to see the war through. One and all must sacrifice something. Amongst the Allies—France, Italy, Belgium, and Russia, or our German, Austrian, . and Turkish enemies, all are in the same boat, and have no notioD of making a^ v rise," in fact, are gladly sacrificing all possible to attain the victorious end aimed at. We do hope there will be no labour trouble ahead, and that Government will do its level best to settle the present demands amicably, and see that no il class 5' is unduly piling up hundreds and thousands, whilst the workers are suffering heavy loss,