RAILWAY CRISIS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2721, 15 April 1924, Page 3

RAILWAY CRISIS.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT,

MUST HAVE 48-HOUR WEEK.

Wellington, Yesterday.

lii a statement made last evening reviewing the whole position of the Railway crisis, the Minister of Railways (Hon. J. G. Coates) claims that nothing more than the setting up of the Wages Board, which was agreed to by the A.S.R.S., could have been done by the Government to secure a fair and exhaustive discussion and decision on the railwaymen’s claims. The negotiations, states Mr Coates, broke down purely because the railwaymen refused to submit their 72 claims for consideration as a whole, but insisted on the first item being isolated and dealt with by itself. The Minister maintains that the hourly rate of pay for the railwaymen compares more than favourably with wages paid by private employers, and is better than in any State in Australia except Queensland. He contends also that the rise in railway wages since 1914 practically equals the rise in the cost of living and that if the men’s claims are granted fares and freights must be increased. In conclusion, the Minister says: “I can (1) Give the public a better railway service, (2) Reduce fares and freights (3) -Pay 3f per cent, on the capital and (4) Above all, increase the weekly wages of the railwaymen on the •simple condition that the hours of labour in the New Zealand railways arc- put on the basis prevailing generally in the transport industries throughout the Australian States, namely, 48 honrs per week.” IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL? UNCERTAIN AFTER GOOD FRIDAY.

It is expected that the ballot papers which have been issued by the A.S.K.S. on the strike issue will be all in hand by Good Friday or the following day, when the action to be taken by the railwaymen will depend upon the result. Many people (says the "Post”) are undecided about Easter travelling, being uneasy as to the possibility of reaching their destinations or of returning before a strike is declared. Travellers can reassure themselves that if will be safe to travel up till Good Friday, at any rate. Those who intend to leave in the next few days would be well advised to ; return however, If they are obliged to do so, before this week-end.

E.FiC.A. WILL REMAIN ON

FOR 'THEIR OWNTrtftS ONLY.

.Among the latest developments of the ltailwhy Service is a decision of the Enginedrivers, Firemen, and Cleaners’ Association to remain at work if the members of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants go out on strike. In a statement to the “Evening Tost ' tne general secretary of the .New ideal and .Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaner's’ Association (Mr YV. M'Ariey ) stated that the policy of his association was similar to that of other organisations when a strike was in progress, i.e. that every member was expected, to do his usual work —no more and “This,” said Mr Ai'Arley, “is the policy adopted by locomotive associations throughout tne world and other organisations m iNew Zealand. It was also the policy of the A.S.R.S. in the miners' strike and of tne seamen and the marine engineers and oiiicera in the seamen's strike. Hie A.S.R.S. is by far the largest body in the railway service, having about 11,UUU members, compared wiln d,UOU in the E.F.C.A. and aUuut tne same number in the First Li vision (tne clerical start).