RAILWAYMEN'S GRIEVANCES.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1919, Page 3

RAILWAYMEN'S GRIEVANCES.

STATEMENT BY MINISTER.

WAGES HIGHER THAN IN

AUSTRALIA.

By Telegraph.—Piozt Aossrisitiao,

Wellington, Jan. 14. Replying to a statement by the Secretary of the Railway i.ceo motive Engine Drivers', Firemen's and Cleaners Association in regard to pay, the Minister of Railways stated to-day that the Asso-1 ciation had been informed that he was ■ quite prepared to ineet its representatives and discuss grievances next month, :>and that he would be also conferring with the representatives of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and the Railway Officers' Institute with a view to reaching an agreement as to an amendment of the schedule of the Government's Railway Act to be introduced next session. The permanent wages were covered entirely by the schedule, which had to be approved by Parliament. Meanwhile, until the statutory schedule was amended, the bonus system would be continued. This provided an additional 3s daily throughout the Second Division for married men, and 2s per day for single men, with bonus of 3s a day. A married first class driver received a total of 16s 6d a day, which was 6d a day higher than the average wage for a similar position ill Australia. For a lower grade the men's wages with bonus, were considerably higher than the rates for similar men in Australia. The question of working could not be determined till the matter of wages had been settled. Wellington, Jan. 15.

Mr. McAuley, the general secretary of the New Zealand Locomotive Engineers', Firemen, and Cleaners' Association, says the Executive Council will not discuss grievances with the Minister any further, and unless he is prepared to say within a short time what he is going to do, members will make the next move. "The Minister has had since the year 1913 to consider the petition sent him by the Railways Committee, and if he requires an extension on that time members are not prepared to grant it, and will possibly give him as many hours to fix their troubles as he has been allowed years."