THE RAILWAY TROUBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1920, Page 5

THE RAILWAY TROUBLE.

WHAT THE BONUS MEANS. By Telegraph.—rress Association. Wellington, April 14. Representatives of the .A.S.R.S. arc not satisfiod with the result of their conference with Mr. Massey. Their principal objection is that Mr. Justice Stringer's report proposed 40 per cent, increase for the lowest paid men. diminishing upwards, but they claim that Mr Massey's own figures show that 02 per cent, is the increase in the cost of living. They contend that, as the bonus is to be decreased as the cost of living falls, they should start from a fair basis*. They state that they have asked for a tribunal with three representatives from both sides and that a ballot lie taken as to the acceptance of the final award. The strike ballot is still going on, but no drastic steps will lie taken till they hear the result of the request for a tribunalWellington, Last Night. Mr. Massey has made a statement about the cost of the bonus to be granted to public servants. He pays it is estimated 1 lie Treasury bave to provide about' £ 1,000,000, and the Secretary to the Treasury cannot suggest any means of meeting the increased demand except by the imposition of fresh taxation! Mr. Massey comments: "There' is the position in a nutshell. I had hoped during the coming session we should be able to reduce taxation, Ijt that now seems out of the question. I shall not be able," he added, "to give a decision for at least a week on the noints raised by the A.S-8.5."