GOVERNMENT STROKE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9351, 21 January 1909, Page 5

GOVERNMENT STROKE.

LEISURELY WORK IN GOVERN

MENT WORKSHOP.

Per Press Association. Christchurch, January 19,

The General Manager of the New Zealand Railways, Mr T. Ronayne, recently forwarded the following memorandum to the chief mechanical engineer at Addington Workshops: —“I Lave had a long interview with an express engineer, who has paid several visits to the Addintgon shops. He was astounded at the slow method and leisurely work of the men genet-/ ally, bntmofe especially those in the boiler shop. Five minutes per rivet for the new riveter is a case in point. The men in the smith’s shop were also doing a 'Government stroke, ’ and there appeared to he an utter disregard of the foreman’s presence in any of the shops, the men being allowed to talk, loaf, and do a very indifferent day’la work.; “It is absolutely ; necessary that this state of indifference be brought to a close, and a fair day’s work must be insisted upon. It will be futile for the loco’ engineer and his staff to say that the charges are groundless. The fact remains that work at Addington cd|sta more to produce than it does at Petone or Hillside. Take the cost of ‘A’ compounds, built at Addington as compared with those built by Price Bros, at the Thames. The latter can build cheaper, and yet their shops are-not nearly so well equipped as Addington shops. “You will please take such action as will bring this discreditable state of affairs to an end.”

A day or two after the despatch of this memorandum it was replaced by anothir, identical in language, except that the paragraph “it will be futile for the locomotive engineer and his staff to say that the charges are groundless” was omitted. The chief mechanical engineer referred the communication to the general manager at Addington, and that official has, it is understood, sent copies of the document to the heads of all departments, with instructions to supply him with a full report upon all the charges made. STATEMENTS DENIED. The heads of different departments to-dav furnished explanations to the general manager of the works, who sent them. to Wellington tonight. It is understood the reports contain a general denial of the allegations in the memorandum, and the greatest indignation is expressed at the charges made. The reply sent to Wellington asks, it is understood, foh the name of the visitor making the complaints, and for a full inquiry into the conduct of the workshops. MR MILLAR’S STATEMENT. Wellingfcoa, January 20. The Government stroke allegations in regard to Addington railway workshops are to be the subject of an immediate official Inquiry, and a New Zealand Times representative learned from the Minister for Railways to-night that the railway workshops throughout the country will come under close scrutiny. Though the adverse reports upon workshops methods does not extend to them, I am causing full inquiry to be made into the whole of the statements,” explained Mr Millar, “and will deal with the position according to the result. The visitor who went through the place is a man who knows exactly what he is talking about.”

Will yon call him as a witness? queried the .pressman. “I am not prepared to say that,” was the Minister’s answer, ‘‘but without: him we oan decide whether the work at Addington has cost more feh*M> an other workshops, Depart-'m-utal or private. All I want is a fair dH.y s work for a fair day’s pay from every man in the service, but If we find in one shop where there is every facility for turning out work most economically that it is not being done, then*foil inquiry has to be made as to the cause. The fault must be somewhere.” Are other railway workshops affected by the allegations? To this query the Minister gave a negative answer. ‘‘As far as I know,” he added, ‘‘the work in other shops is being turned out satisfactorily, bnt I am awaiting detailed information regarding their cost of production. I fail to see why the workshops which are supposed to contain as skilled men as are to be obtained should not tarn out the work as cheaply as any private firm seeing that there is the plant available for turning out jobs economically. And if the workshops are not doing the work economically? Then, answered Mr Millar, the qnestion will have to be considered whether it is not in the interests of the country to call for tenders from private firms for that class of work. I have no desire to do anything of the sort, as I believe we are quite capable of turning out work equal to any private firm at as low a cost, but, if not, we may have to revert to the contract system and keep the shops merely for repairing. The pressman took the opportunity to ascertain bow far the dismissals recently recorded were likely to proceed, and the Minister plainly indicated where this policy will end. “Our big building programme is pretty well over,” he said. A large amount of building had to be done to make provision for the through traffic between Auckland and Wellington, and to enable this to be overtaken a large number of men were taken on canually. They numbered 120, distributed among the different workshops, and, the work having been completed, it is impossible for ns to keep them on as the ordinary or permanent staff is quite able to carry out the whole of the ordinary work snob as repairs and the normal building programme required to meet the growth of traffic from year to year. > Following the opening up of new sections, are more dismisasls likely? ‘‘No more,” declared the Minister without hesitation. ‘“Some of those have received notice to leave this month and another batch go in February, We are tbrus easing down gradually, so that - the staff will reach normal proportions at the end of next month. ” So far the Minister ibad been dealing with workshop employees. He was then asked how traffic hands were likely to fare. „ “The traffic staff is ftound to increase frora|tlme to" time,” replied Mr Millar, “as we take over new sections of railway. For instance, station masters and surfacemen are required to look after tke new portion of the North Island Main Trunk line. That is inevitable, and do not look upon the present traf-

fio staff as overstocked as far as I can ascertain at present. For, some time extra men have been taken on. We have been training them in view of Main Trunk requirements. Therefore, Ido not anticipate any redaction in that staff.”