MASS RAILWAY MEETING

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2329, 3 September 1880, Page 3

MASS RAILWAY MEETING

About 1000 railway employees assembled in Ferguson’s sbed at Sydenham last evening to consider the 10 per cent reductions. The following telegrams were read: — “Dunedin, Sept. 2,1880. “ To the General Manager. “You have alread}'’ been informed that there is at present no 10 per cent, reduction of wages contemplated ; that the consideration of the question lias been postponed, and that the men will have due notice before any reduction whatever takes place. Tell the men that I strongly recommend them for their own sakes not to dream of a strike. “(Signed) W. Conyers.” “ J. 11. Lowe, Esq. —You may inform the men that the idea of a 10 per cent reduction has been abandoned ; that there must bo some reduction of wages, but that no reduction whatever will be made until due notice has been given. “ (Signed) W. Conyers.” A speaker said that what was being done was in opposition to the Government, not to the heads of departments. The Covcrnment struck first. Government was trying to mislead the public by implying that the wages of the railway men were simply being equalised with outside places. In those shops there was pay for overtime, but such a thing was unknown on the railway. He would move —“ That unless a definite reply be received from the Minister for Public Works by mid-day on Saturday, we cease work.” The motion was seconded, and in support of it a speaker commended the proposed opportunity for a satisfactory assurance, because a strike, like a twoedged sword,cut both ways. The matter had a political side. His argument was that bone and muscle fairly represented capital. Not one link of the chain now connected in that hall must be loosed. Some people said the railways were disorganised, and who could wonder at it when they heard such telegrams as had been read that evening —(loud laughter) —which told them first one thing and then another, The motion was carried. At this moment a messenger arrived with a telegram from the Hon. Mr Oliver, which stated that the ten per cent, reduction was only temporary, that the wages of railway servants ffould be assimilated with those of out-

siders, and warned intending strikists that the Government could, and would replace them. it was resolved to reopen the whole question, and the following resolution was carried ;—“ That we defer any action until notice of the revision of the scale of wages bo made known.” It was moved—“ That a delegate bo sent from here to Dunedin, so as to communicate to Christchurch the exact position of affairs.”

The motion was agreed to. The Chairman said there was one point to be considered. The Dunedin men sent a delegate to Christchurch and lie had been suspended. What were the Christchurch men prepared to do if their delegate was suspended ? Cries of “ Turn out,” and “ Stand by him.”

Several men were proposed, and one of them accepted the responsibility. He did not hold a higli position in the service and he was prepared to go rather than that some other man should sacrifice a good job. (Laughter.! Well he had been working in the ballast pit, and that wasn’t a particularly nice job to a man who never handled a pick or shovel before he came into the country. (Laughter.) He meant to live and if he lost his present billet he must study the bankruptcy laws. (Laughter.) There was something to be made out of that.

A further resolution was carried, to the effect that if the delegate lost his “ billet” the railway men would support him until he got “ as good a place.” The chairman called for “three cheers for the newspapers.” This having been responded to, cheers were given for “ our old friend and fellow workman (Mr Ferguson), for his kindness in giving ns the use of the room.” _ The proceedings then terminated. (Abridged from the “ Lyttelton Times.”)