CLOSED RAILWAY WORKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 16 January 1931, Page 2

CLOSED RAILWAY WORKS

POSITION OF THE WORKERS

GOVERNMENT STRONGLY CRITICISED STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF WORKERS’ UNION Mr Arthur Cook, General Secretary of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, forwards from Wellington, under date 14th January, a statement regarding “the suffering of workers and their dependents on closed railways” and “the Government’s callous indifference.”

In the course of this he says that the extreme suffering caused by the Government’s action in closing four railway construction works, causing 1,400 men to be thrown out of employment, has caused an unprecedented position for the people concerned, and created a most difficult problem for the local bodies in the affected areas.

On the Waikokopu-Gisborne section alone, 724 workers are affected. These men have over 600 dependents, which makes the numbr of people affected between 1,300 and 1,400. On the other three lines approximately 600 workers are affected, with a similar number of dependents, which gives us a total of roughly 2,600 human, beings affected. After strongly criticising the Government’s action in dismissing these men at such short notice, Mr Cook states that the fact has got to be realised, that so far, practically nothing has been done in order to provide further employment for the men concerned, in spite of the fact that numerous representations have been made to responsible Ministers, by various local bodies and the New Zealand Workers’ Union. The Acting Prime Minister, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, is reported to have said that he hoped to place 100 njen on road work connected with State land development, within the next week, and a further 100 men would be placed within three weeks. Mr Cook would like to know from the Acting Prime Minister what is to become of the other 1,200 men and their dependents. “One can only surmise that these men are going to be left to the mercy of charitable institutions to provide themselves, their wives and children with the necessities of life, while an indifferent Government callously disregards the wretched position. in which they have placed a large body of the Dominion’s best citizens.” Latest reports from Gisborne and elsewhere reveal the astounding position that a large section of the workers and their dependents are on the verge of starvation, which has made it necessary for even the churches in the Gisborne district to appeal to their congregations to provide bread for the men, women and children.

The policy of the Government in closing tliese lines at practically a moment’s notice without making adequate arrangements for the immediate transfer of the men to other works, was a wicked blunder, and one that the citizens of this Dominion will not be likely to forget for many years to come. ILL-TIMED AND UNWISE Mr Cook says it is not his intention to enter into' a controversy regarding the advisability or otherwise of continuing the closed railways, other than express an opinion in connection with the Waikokopu-Gisborne stoppage, which on account of nearing completion, must prove the. Government’s policy not only to be ill-timed, but unwise. It is certain that this railway must be completed before many more years have passed, therefore the stoppage at this juncture will add considerably to the construction cost of that railway. It is beyond dispute to say that the cost of closing down and re-opening this section will necessitate in the expenditure of some thousands of pounds, that could otherwise have been saved. Therefore, it is little wonder that the Poverty Bay people should protest so vigorously against the additional burden which they will be called upon to bear. As one who has travelled the whole of the Poverty Bay District, Mr Cook has no hesitation in saying that the Poverty Bay people did not over estimate its revenue producing capacities when the line was completed, and he sincerely trusts the Poverty Bay people will not be content to allow this matter to remain as at present. Amongst the many blunders made by the United Government, Mr Cook considers the present one is the most colossal, and that it certainly should, without the shadow of doubt bring about their downfall at the next General Election.

Again referring to the plight of the workers Mr Cook says he realises exactly what their position is, and they should receive the sympathy of the whole of the citizens of New Zealand, who at the present time, are more favourably placed. Mr Ransom, by his statement makes it very plain that the Government wishes to avoid the responsibility of providing the dismissed men with further work. His Government’s policy undoubtedly is to side step their responsibilities in this matter, and only place a few men at long intervals, in hopes that the great majority will gradually disappear and become a burden on charitable institutions and local bodies in the various centres of the affected areas.

NELSON PROTEST COMMENDED

“The attitude adopted by the Nelson Progress League is to be commended, and I sincerely trust that body will continue its protest until the Government is compelled to shoulder the responsibility of rectifying to some little extent the great burden, they have indieted on not only the workers concerned, but other institutions,” declares Mr Cook.

“One can appreciate the position in towns like Nelson and Gisborne, where the local authorities are already burdened with an unemployed problem, having their difficulties increased a hundredfold ; consequently, their vigorous protests are fully justified.” Mr Ransom is further reported to have said “he was at a loss to understand the reports concerning the acute distress among the men, seeing they finished work only that day, and thoso who have been in work for two years or more would receive at lest four week’s pay. These men constitute about 30 per cent, of the total, and no one would receive less than £4 on being paid off.”

WORKERS’ POSITION NOT APPRECIATED

On this Mr Cook comments: —“I have on a number of occasions previously said that Mr Ransom makes it a. practice of not attempting to appreciate tho railway construction workers’ position. Ho never loses an opportunity of saying that the average wages earned by the men on various works reach a figuro in the vicinity of 17s per day, and it is pleasing to note that tho inspection made by a representative of tho ‘Gisborne Times’ of numerous pay sheets at Bartletts, Gisborne, proves that scores of workers on that section working under the co-operative contract system,

earned extremely miserable wages, and this_ factor applies on all railway construction works. It is impossible to judgo by taking tho average of the wages earned, the prosperity or poverty of any section, and it is unfair computation to use higher paid workers’ rates in drder to increase the lower paid workers average, to show a living wage, rate over the whole.

“I can say without fear of contradiction that at least half of the men involved in this stoppage did not average during the past twelve months a wage of 14s per day, and on an average the men on the four closed lines lost at least I 5 days per week throughout the year on account of wet weather, which reduced their wages to £3 3s per week. Out of this sum, the men had to provide food and clothing for their wives and families, and also pay their medical fund account and other items, and in face of this, we have a responsible statesman occupying the important position of Acting Prime Minister of New Zealand, doubting there is poverty amongst tho workers concerned. It is very unfortunate that this gentleman has not had some previous practical experience. . . ” "In conclusion, I wish to assure the people of my deepest and sincere sympathy and to advise them that I will continue to do all that is humanly possible to assist tjiem, and I trust they will meet this unenviable situation with forethought and courage, and above all, not to scatter, but to remain in occupation of the Government accommodation until they receive a fair and just deal from the present unsympathetic Government.”