RAILWAY STRIKE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2723, 22 April 1924, Page 3

RAILWAY STRIKE.

SECOND DIVISION OUT.

ULTIMATUM FROM A.S.R.S

GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS CHALLENGE.

Wellington, Last Night.

To-day the Government proposals were discussed by the executive council of the A.S.R.S. and at noon the president (Mr M. Connelly) had a brief interview with the Minister of Railways (the Hon. J. G. Coates) and communicated the result of that interview to his executive. Later, following up a similar communication from Mr Connelly by telephone, Mr M. J. Mack (general secretary of the A.S.R.S.) wrote to the Minister:— “I am instructed bv my executive to advise you that failing some increase in wages being offered by the Government it will instruct the whole of the Railwaymen in the Second Division to cease work at midnight to-night, April 21st.”

Cabinet met at 3 o’clock this afternoon to consider this communication, and after a lengthy conference with his colleagues, the Minister of Railways replied to Mr Mack as under: —

“I have to state that Cabinet has considered your communication and I am directed to inform you that, as the Society has failed to take advantage of all the opportunities offered it by the Government, of establishing its claims before a tribunal that would have the confidence of the public, and has preferred to take the matter into its own hands by declaring a strike, the action of the A.S.R.S. leaves the Government no option but to decline to comply .with the demands made by the executive of the A.S.R.S.”

Mr M. Connelly, president of the A.S.R.S. stilted in the course of an interview that he had no further comment to make. Every possible avenue lmd been tried to obtain a settlement without resorting to a strike, and, much as they regretted it, it was now found that it was impossible to do this without resorting to the mandate given by members and unless something unforseen occurred, 1 his would operate as from 12 o’clock that night. The Minister was given the personal assurance of Mr Connelly that the men before ceasing work, would run 'to their home stations all trains leaving before midnight. _

News of the stroke of railwaymen has caused great excitement throughout the Dominion. The Government Railway Department has been inundated with wires as to the position.

PREMIER REGRETS DECISION. NOT FORCING AN ELECTION ON RAILWAY ISSUE. Wellington, Last r Night. “I do not think anyone regrets more than I do, that the railwaymen’s leaders have determined to force a strike upon the public at the present juncture,” stated Mr Massey early to-night, “right in the middle of the Easter holidays, and in front of ‘Fleet Week,’ when tens of thousands of New Zealanders are anxious to visit the different centres for the purpose of welcoming the sailors of our Empire Navy and seeing the warships on which our safety may one day depend. From the railwaymen’s own viewpoint, their tactics are the most ili-advis-od 1 have heal’d of j and from the citizens’ viewpoint, I believe the tactics now ehployed will be looked upon generally with grave disfavour. However, they have decided to test the question as to whether tins country is to be governed by certain Socialistic organisations, which have been specially prominent for'some time past. Whatever happens, those who have set the heather on lire must take the responsibility for their actions.” Mi’ Massey replied at some length to the manifesto issued by the tour- Christchurch Labour members saying it was very little use to quibble over the increased cost of living because undoubtedly members of the Public Service were very much better paid and generally very much better off than prior to Ibid, when Uie present Government took office. in speaking of the Labour members’ reference to Messrs Witty, lsitt, and Bell voting with the Government, Mr Massey said it seemed a pretty mean thing to do, because those gentlemen had not interfered in Uie present dispute. ~ The Premier refuted the lion that the Government was fore-' ing an election on the railway issue, aud declared: "The issue is being forced by those who are responsible for the present difficulty, especially by those members to wliose ietter i am replying. Per- . sonaiiy or politically, i have no fear of an election, but i have to think of the country's interests before anything in the way of party or personal advantage.” . HOLIDAY ENDS JLN UihfiSTT~. Ohristchuich, Last Night. Prior to about 8 o’clock this evening there was a true holiday spirit abroad, and Ueeting scraps of ■ conversation in the streets and other public places referred in the main to such light and airy subjects as "how Limelight won the Great Autumn.” (Shortly after 8 o’clock, however, news spread with remarkable rapidity that the strike was on.

Xu various places oX amusement Ike announcement was muck to tke diseomkture oX tkose oX tke audience wko were visitors. Numbers or these immediately repaired to theix

hotels and the telephone wires to the station became unduly busy. Some had hopes of getting away by the late trains to-night, but this was speedily found to be impossible in the case of many places far removed from town.

The only visitors who were unconcerned were those with their °wn motor transport, or others who "'ere in a position to be able to obtain transport by road to their various homes. Business men with important engagements found themselves in an unfortunate position, and were in some cases, very loud in complaint. There was a rush for the ferry steamer at Lyttelton tonight. The boat train was a long and heavy one, while many passengers had intended staying in Christchurch longer, but the prospects of a strike caused them to change their plans and to hasten home. The Maori was full to capacity on leaving for Wellington to-night.

HISTORY OF THE DISPUTE. REVIEWED BY MINISTER OF RAILWAYS.

Wellington, Last Night. The following official statement, reviewing (he railway crisis, was issued by ihe Minister to-night: In order that the public may judge as to the responsibility for the position that lias now arisen, the following short statement of occurrences that have immediately led up to the present situation is'given for general information.

In February of this year the executive of the A.S.R.S. interviewed the Minister of Railways with a demand for an increase in wages o.f 1/8 per day, and for the setting up of a board to consider further demands from the society for alterations in their conditions of work. The Minister was then in the middle of personally acquainting himself with the many important works that will require to be carried out mi the railways in the near future. The completion of his inspection could not conveniently be postponed .•uni the Minister so informed the A.S.R.S. and intimated that he would be prepared to deal with the demands on his return from the South Island, and agreed- that any demands on which an agreement was not reached between the Minister aud the society should be referred to a board.

The A.S.R.S. accordingly interviewed the Minister again on March 14 after his return from the South Island, and the Minister intimated that he was prepared to go through the list of demands that was submitted by the society and bear its representatives thereon. Although the'society bad presented seventy-two demands, the president intimated that it desired to deal then with the first item only, namely, that dealing with wages, and to obtain the decision thereon before proceeding to consideration of the remaining items.

After hearing the representations of the A.S.R.S. on item number 1.. and after some discussion as to whether the other items should be dealt with, it was decided to proceed with the hearing by the Minister of the representations on the other items.

However, after some items had been dealt with the A.S.R.S. terminated the proceedings before the Minister and requested that the board be set up to deal with the claims. This was agreed to by the Minister and a board was set up consisting of three representatives of the Railway Department, three representatives of the society and an independent chairman, as suggested by the A.S.R.S. (The order of reference was duly submitted to the Society and approved by it aud the chairman, Mr H D. Aciand, was agreed upon between the Minister and the society. This board duly commenced its proceedings and had before it the seventy-two demands submitted by the Society. The first ernand was for an increase in wages of 2/6 per day. Tlie first demand was for an incussed and tfie representatives of the society Ifion took the stand that they insisted on a decision being given by tfie chairman tfiereon before the board should proceed to a consideration of the other items. The chairman took up the attitude that as all the items were intimately interwoven with that regarding wages, there should be a full discussion on all the items, so that he should be in possession of the information winch he considered necessary lo enable hnu to come to a "proper decision on the wages question.

The representatives of the society hovveVer, persisted in their demand tiiat the chairman should deal with the mutter as they wished.

The ciiairinan could not see his way to accede to this request and Ugain intimated that without the information that would he available on the discussion of the other items lie was not in a position to formulate a decision on the wages question.

The A.S.iLS. then summarily terminated the proceedings of the board and proceeded to take a strike ballot.

VVkile tke counting oX tke ballot was ui progress, representatives oX tne A.iS.iv.ti. approacked tke Minister ami tire Uoveriuaent again, and alter some interviews between me parties, a request was made by tke represeutatives oX tke society ior tke setting up oi another wages board. Ike Minister submitted tkis request to Cabinet, wkick agreed to uompiy witk wkat kad keen asked ior. Ikere was some dikerence oX opinion about tke person to be appointed as chairman, but it was a-

greed at this stage (10 o’clock p.m. on Saturday) to allow the details to stand over until the Monday. This morning, a message was received from the society, conveying no intimation regarding the proposal of its representatives to ' set up another board, but conveying a curt intimation that unless the Government agreed forthwith to grant an increase in wages, the executive would call the members out on strike at midnight that night. As the Society had refused to take the opportunities offered it of justifying its demands before an impartial tribunal, and preferred to adopt the course of endeavouring to extract an increase in wages from the Government under threat of a strike, the Government felt that it had no.option in the public interest but to decline to accede to the demand of the executive of the society.

It will be seen from the foregoing short statement of facts that the Government has been willing to meet the Society as far as it reasonably could, with due regard to its duty to ihe public and the responsibility for the present position must therefore rest mi the executive of the A.S.R.S. THE STRIKERS.

The strikers consist of the fol lowing:— Porters, Shunters, Guards, Sig na,l-men, Train Examiners, Store meu, Shed Hands and Permanen Way Employees. Non Participants:—-Engine Driv ers. Firemen and Cleaners. Clerks Slationmasters. Goods and Coach ing Foremen. LOCAL CONDITIONS. .

Tn conversation with the local slationmaster Ibis morning, we were informed that he could not give us auv information concerning the strike, other than wlmt the public were acquainted with. He said the local men out totalled eight, as follows: Four permanent way i»ea. two guards, a porter and slorempii.

A large number of passengers from the seaside lined up at the station this morning to entrain for Palmerston North and elsewhere. The locomotive had steam up, but did not leave the shed as no guard was on duty. The passengers took the'situation good hnmouredly and chaffed.late corners to tHe platform. The majority found other.means of travelling to their destinations. The local goods shed-is choc-a-bloc with goods, much of which is nnsortod. which will make it difficult for private delivery. There is no perishable goods in the shed. The stationmaster at Himatangi who is inducted in the list of st-nk-ers. when notified to “down tools,” in characteristic language replied that there was no strike so far as he was concerned. Tlio man in charge at Rangiotn is “out.” Palmerston N., To-day. There was a. big scramble foi seats on the Auckland express at Palmerston yesterday. No trains have passed through Palmerston N. since the departure of the expresses. The officials are now awaiting instructions from headquarters. Motor services between Wellington, Palmerston N. and Wanganui are riming at frequent intervals, carrying passengers and hundreds of people are using this means of transport. GAS WORKS COAL SUPPLY. SUFFICIENT FOR 9 OR 10 WEEKS. The local manager of the gas works informed us this morning that there is sufficient coal in stock and on hand to last out from nine to ten weeks. It is probable that a special train service will be arranged to Wellington during the visit of the iieet in order to keep faith with the country school children. Motor passenger and mail services are being organised between Auckland and Wellington, Napier and New Plymouth. It is hoped to liave these services runing to schedule time before the end of the week. The north and south mails arrived per’ motor service a tittle earlier than usual to-day. This service will continue during the strike. Motor ears have been passing Liuough Foxton to-day with full complements of passengers and baggage.