THE RAILWAYS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1921, Page 5

THE RAILWAYS.

THREAT OF STOPPAGEFIREMEN’S ULTIMATUM. MAY CEASE W.ORK SUNDAY, By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The following resolution was carried unanimously at a full meeting of the Engine-drivers, Firemen and Cleaners’ Association (Wellington branch) on Sunday: “That we, the firemen, having the fullest sympathy of the drivers, view with dissatisfaction the class of inferior coal we are called upon to use. While sympathising with the manage- , ment in being unable to -procure coal of a better standard we protest against the great quantity of inferior coal they have bought, and are still buying. Had they bought only sufficient to tide them over any shortage that may have existed they would have retained our sympathy, but owing to the inferior coal now in use we request the management to immediately gr£nt to all firemen, and drivers having inexperienced firemen , with them, twenty minutes extra allowance both for preparing and putting away their engines, and 2s per day extra when burning inferior coal. Seeing that this matter has already been represented to the general manager by correspondence and a deputa-, tion, we notify the general manager that unless these requests are granted by noon on Saturday, the 22nd instant, the firemen will cease work at midnight on Sunday, the 23rd.”

A SECOND DISPUTE. CLAIMS OF THE A.S.R.S. This dispute appears to be quite distinct from one already existing between the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and the Government and which concerns a demand for increased wages on account of the alterations in the cost of living which the men claim have taken place since the present wages schedule was determined. On this matter the Prime Minister recently announced that he would give the men another Wages Board Commission to go into the question of wages only, the commission to consist of three representatives of the society and three of the department, with an independent chairman. The demand has led to the circulation of ballot papers among the members of the A.S.R.S.. and members are asked to state whether they will support the executive in “extreme action” should that course be deemed necessary. The announcement that the Government has agreed to the appointment of a board to investigate the claim is not regarded with much favor by the members of the society, who express the opinion that the Government should have taken this action months ago.