RE WESTPORT RAILWAY WORKSHOPS.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 65, 7 June 1912, Page 14

RE WESTPORT RAILWAY WORKSHOPS.

Sir,—Recognising your efforts to uplift the worker, I would ask the aid of your valuable paper to ventilate a matter of grave importance to a large nuniIwr >f workers in the workshop of the Westport branch of the N.Z. Railways. Some time ago a meeting was called by the Mayor to discuss the alleged grievances of the workers in the workshop, and a resolution was carried tkroat asking the Minister of Railways to grant a publio enquiry into the state of affairs purporting to exist. Sufficient evidence was laid before that meeting, to convince the most sceptical that something was radically wrong with tho management, and it was thought that a professedly Liberal Minister would pay sufficient regard to a public petition to grant tho enquiry asked for. But, a.s usual, publicity is denied, and actions which Dame Rumor avers savor of Siberia are allowed and practioally encouraged. Members of tho Federation; of Labor,' knowing what they wore talking about, spoke at tho mooting:, ono making,

the assertion that practically 50 out of a total staff of 64 workers had been suspended, disrated, discharged or had loft to escape unfair or tyrannous treatment during the regime of one superior (?) officer, almost a complete change being effected in the personnel of the staff in about two years. The Labor members in the House could see to this if they had a mind to; they could got plenty of evidence of what has been taking place and the bona fides of these statements by enquiring of the Executive of tlio A.S.R.S. or the executive officers of tho Westport Labor Union, and their pressure upon tho present Minister of Railways might have the desired effect. This is a case that Mr. Veitch, with his railway knowledge, might well take a hand in.— Yours, etc., RONTCEN RAYS.