RAILWAY GRIEVANCES.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1919, Page 5

RAILWAY GRIEVANCES.

THE GOVERNMENT'S REPLY, s-.' By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Wellington, Last Night. The Government lias made its reply to! the request of the locomotive men of' the railway service, made by a deputation from their society, which waited on the Acting Prime Minister some two weeks ago. On that occasion the men protested that they could get no distance With the discussion of their differences With the management in conference with the Minister of Railways and the General Manager of Railways, and they appealed to the Government to appoint an outside conciliator (for which position they suggested cither Judge Sim or Judge Stringer) to preside over the conference of representatives of their society, and the Department conciliator was merely to be chairman of the conference, charged, presumably, with the duty of seeingj that matters were fairly presented and discussed. He was not to be an arbi- ] trator.

The Acting Prime Minister promised to submit the matter to Cabinet, and the answer of Cabinet had been given. Following is the text of the Minister's reply:— "To the president and secretary of the Engine Drivers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association,—

''ln accordance with my promise, I referred to Cabinet the various matters placed before me by the deputation which waited on me on May 13. In reply, I have to state that Cabinet hay carefully considered the matter, and I have been authorised to mahe the following reply: The Government understand that the details of the Government scheme have never been thoroughly discussed in a fair and amiaable mknner, owing to t'hie refusal of your association to take part in any round table conference between the Minister of Railways and the Department and yourselves:. The Government believe that if such a conference had been held many misunderstandings would have been cleared up. Therefore the Government suggest to your association that such a conference be held, in which objections to the scheme may be fairly stated to the Minister and to the General Manager. The Government strongly recommend'; the association to follow the example of the Amalgamated Society and accept the scheme, and give it a fair trial, with the belief that any injustices that may be found iu administration can better be remedied by round table conferences than by threats of a strike.

With respect to your request for arbitration in the matter, if that means that your association desires to come under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, I may say that the Government not only would have no objection to that course but would bring in legislation to give effect to this, provided it was satisfied, by ballot, or otherwise, that the majority of its employees in the Second Division cere in favor of such a course. The Government, however, could not agree to a minority of the Second Division being under the Arbitration Act and a larger portion being outside the Act, nor could the Government agree to any arbitrators or conciliators beijig appointed to act, except under the provisions of the Arbitration Act."

Amcvghjg REPLY TO SIR JAMES ALLEN.

Wellington, Last Night. W. MacArley, general secretary of the Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners,'' Association, in the course of a statement, replying to Sir James Allen's letter, says it appears to him that the Acting Prime Minister has been misinformed as to the attitude taken up by the representatives of the association. He personally offered to state the association's position to the Acting Prime Minister. Before the Cabinet met the association never refused to meet the Minister for Railmays (Hon. W. H. Herries) and the Department in a round table conference to discuss the proposals. When the Minister submitted his proposals on April 2 the proposals were fully discussed and explained to the association's delegates. The men had the fullest information, and fully understood the proposals, and representatives of the association, in their statement to the Acting Prime Minister, stated certain definite reasons why they resented the proposals which couid not he the subject of any misunderstanding on either t'ide. The Executive Council, which has power to act in the matter, will meet as soon as the members can assemble, when an official statement may be made.