THE RAILWAY COMMISSION AND THE WAGES QUESTION.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 246, 14 March 1888, Page 6

THE RAILWAY COMMISSION AND THE WAGES QUESTION.

Wellington, March 9. In an article on the appointment of the Chief Railway Commissioner, the "l^ost" says that it is anticipated in certain quarters that the Board will do what no Government dared, for political reasons, attempt, that'is, to reduce the rate of wages iO6 the 'railway. It was whispered all last session fciiat this would be one of the first effects of the change of management, but no member dared openly avow the fact. It is j to be hoped thai the new Commissioners will not act ra#bly in this matter, Any alteration of rate of wages in a service which I is co extensive as tjiat of the railways must, direpfcly atiecfc the, labour market generally, and a false, stlepbn tb,e part of, t,he Railway Board, in fchls matter might be attended I wfthu vjbVy t jle'ripus , consequences .to, the colony generally, M .\ybije the; (^oye,rnmenfo,» j once* the, Bpar^ji^'fu^y cqnglit^te^v will sha^hp.refll'con^ro^over its, action in this or| otWer^way^/ j.Tne^wiiter. .hope's ...that, MmiB<;prs yjj'l^pf'fa^ to; iniprej^ .up^n the, rnind^ 0 ( f ,Cbmw^iqsipners .th^'jmpprtance'o^ caution ( d^qKetion . in attenqiijting.any! c^^ngetin ibe^directionj indicated; ;jLit|jeile^B, .than^^qefa} reyolu-:,, #9^* ; WW fro^, any.hftefcfc ore??l^r^jp,^ r«l)ffy, paring, a.

success would bo ruined ,at tho very outpefc. It would bo well to have Assistant Commissioners postered of colonial expeiionce, as they would 'have some knowledge of the conditions of the labour question in tho colony. It would never do to have an TSnglish Chief Commissioner come out liere to attempt to introduce on our railways English ideas us to either wages or labour. Any such attempt would be most vigorously resitted, and bo certain to fail in the end.