EX-SOLDIERS’ PLIGHT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1055, 20 August 1930, Page 10

EX-SOLDIERS’ PLIGHT

RETURNED ASSOCIATION’S LETTER RAILWAY DISMISSALS Following its decision yesterday to support the cause of returned soldiers effected by the change in conditions of casual workers in the Auckland Railway Goods Sheds, the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association has written to the Alinister of Railways, the Hon. W. A. Veitch, as follows: "I wish to call your attention to the serious effect which your decision that permanent casuals in the employ of the Railway Department shall be treated from last Monday as ordinary casuals will have on returned soldiers who have been employed as permanent casuals. Thirteen men will be affected by this decision, all of whom «r© married men. Most of them have families ranging up to five children. Their terms of service in the late war overseas rang© from five months to four and a-half years and their service with the department as permanent «;asuals ranges from four to 18 years. The position with regard to these men Ss very serious. They have served their country well when their services Were called for and, on return from active service, they definitely stated that they received preference when given employment and now, through no fault of their own, although men fully experienced in handling the class of work which is still needed, they are deprived of their seniority and have to start again on the same footing as ordinary casual labourers. “In some cases I am notified that single porters, transferred from other stations, are earning full wages at this work and that service men, owing to being forced to work shorter time by four hours a week, are earning some 7s a week less. “My association views with grave concern the treatment meted out to these men and would urge you most strongly to reconsider the matter in th© light of that which I have stated above. “A copy of this letter is also being forwarded to the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates. E. H. SHARP, Secretary.”