NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 October 1918, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND NEWS.

RAILWAY EMPLOYEES' DEMANDS FOR BETTER WAGES.

SECRET BALLOT LIKELY. WELLINGTON, this day. The Executive Council of the New Zealand Locomotive Engineers’, Firemen’s, and Cleaners’ Assocaition decided to agree to the men’s demand for a secret ballot, if the majority of the Dominion councillors confirm this step. The Council is making an appeal to the people to see that the men are not worked under worse conditions than they are working under themselves. The men contend the war bonuses do not act fairly with the men in receipt of overtime, for which they only get a flat rate. They demand increased wages to an extent at least sufficient to the purchasing power of the wages received in 1900. They also ask overtime rates for cleaners over eight hours’ overtime at rate and a-half, for engineers and firemen when over forty-eight hours worked, and double time for over sixty hours in the week, time and a-half between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., double time on Sunday, Christmas Day and Good Friday, thirteen days’ statutory holidays, increased lodging allowance to men temporarily away from home, minimum time between shifts of eight hours. The ballot will be taken immediately if approved by the Dominion councillors to acertaln^

what action the men desire taken to secure compliance with their requests as to better wages and conditions.

OBITUARY. WELLINGTON, this day. Charles William Adams, former Chief Surveyor and Commissioner of Crown Lands in Marlborough, died yesterday at the Hutt, aged seventy' eight. Ho was a native of Tasmania and settled in New Zealand in 1862, when he joined the Survey Department; He retired in 1904. He has two sons, who are Dr. C. E. Adams, Government Astronomer, Wellington and Mr. Ar-? thur Adams, journalist, Sydney.