RAILWAYMEN'S GRIEVANCES.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 March 1920, Page 2

RAILWAYMEN'S GRIEVANCES.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—ln your leader of March 2.11 hj, re:.rring to the raiiwaymen's demands you make ome statements which arc not strictlv In ccordanee with the facta of the case, 'you cfer to the findings of Mr. Justice Stringer ,oiv, .Justice Stringer based his report on tatistlcal figures relating to tho cost of ving sinco April Ist of last year, statins hat a new agreement had been entered into lotween tho Department and the men on hat date, and as this had been accepted bv he men without question he must conclude hat wages were placed on a satisfactory )asis. This is entirely incorrect. The ffreement was accepted because the Dcnartnont absolutely refused to arrant anvtlilnc urther. It wits accented as an instalment md the Department were plainly advised of mch Mr. Stringer's report is regarded as in absolute farce. You.also state vou decline 0 bellcvo that one man hi a hundred desires .0 strike when the matter can he settled by 1 conference. \V)iat you believe in tills respect Is absolutely correct. We all hone that this matter can bo settled by a coherence But. innumerable conferences have *,?,„ tI 1 'i le , past ' and Ule " leils ure of wf U'imSl n !iIS b ! e ? «s;r«iain K ly small. " i i st!ited ln tl,e H °<™ that tile railwaymen were a loyal body of men and he was proud of them." 'unfortunately, fine words will not buy (lie kiddles boots or pay the butcher's bill, and the railwaymen desire some more tangible recoitni ion of their loyalty in addition to a IlUle bit of soft soap. The fact that tho ballot papers are not returnable until April 17th V," 0 , " ctl< "! ls t0 be tal! ™ ""til after the interview with Mr. Massey. On the result of that interview, tho future action of the railwaymen depends. yon conclude by stating that up to the present no reliable racis and figures have been produced in sunport of our claims. Allow me to refer you to my letter to another paper which contains reliable facts and figures both.—l am, P- E. PEPPEREM,, Inglewood, March 2Gth. [This does not in any way affect our main point, namejy. that Jf the rallwaymen are so misguided as to use direct action methods ,m, wll ' lose the sympathy of the public, without which they cannot succeed rl, *m. nnd . 3 < a® the railwaymen at Home found to' their cost recently. The railway deserve if any do, a "square deal," • nd the public looks to the Prime Minister to give It to them.—Ed.] 10