RATIONING WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 162, 11 July 1930, Page 8

RATIONING WORK.

SCHEME FOR RAILWAYS. TO SAVE MORE DISMISSALS. WEEK'S WORK WITHOUT PAY "FROM THE MANAGER DOWN." (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. Thirty men under notice of dismissal from the Hutt railway workshops, accompanied by trade union leaders and Labour members of Parliament, to-day appealed to the Minister of Railways, the Hon, W. A. Veitch, for the suspension of the notices. The whole situation affecting the workshops was discussed. Mr. L. Mcllvride, general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, asked the Minister to stay his hand until the executive could meet on Monday and make an official representation. He said the gravest apprehension was felt by railwaymen throughout the Dominion, as the dismissals' reported were: —Hillside shops, 50; Addington, about. 100; Hntt, 85; Kaiwarra maintenance shops, 85; Eastown, 30; Otahuhu, 90. He believed there were proportionate numbers in various other districts throughout New Zealand. Many of these men had long service, and some had suffered through accident, received compensation and then been given light employment. Now they were dismissed. Mr. Mcllvride quoted some pathetic eases of hardship and declared he had word from various districts that work was available if the Minister of Finance would find the money. "We believe the Government is becoming a bit panicky and putting men off with the result that they will get shorthanded for running the railway service," said Mr. Mcllvride. He urged delay, so that at least alternative employment could be found. The men should not be thrown on the labour market in the dead of winter. "First-class Workers." Mr , . Ingram, secretary of the Tradesmen's Association, described the drastic reductions as unprecedented ill the railway service, and said that due consideVa' tion had not been given before the action, because men with records _of totig and faithful service were going out. He could definitely prove that some of these men, with over twenty years' service, Were absolutely first-class Workers. The efficiency policy had merit if it could be applied with justice. Were the dismissals necessary? After mature consideration: he believed that the high workshop costs could not be associated With the men. Valuable economies fiOuld be achieved by throwing overboard expensive systems. Years ago thei'e wfts talk Of a surplus staff, which in 1925 totalled ISO, and it was considered that the usual retirements would bring the position to normal in five years but to-day they WenS told that the railways We're carrying a surplus staff of 2000. "If you put them all Off, you could not carry on the railways'," declared Mr. Ingram. The only plumber employed in the WeStpOrt district Was being dismissed. Economies were needed, but not by attacking the rank and file. Minister's Difficulties, The Minister Of Railways replied ■that he found himself in an : extremely difficult position. The railway losses this year Were estimated at £1,300,000, ana economies were urgently needed. The. railway shops had been employing much larger numbers than they could employ continuously, in order to. overtake arrears due to the workshops reorganisation, "which I am very sorry ever took place." The expenditure on repairs last year was £-256,000 m excess of that in the , previous year. In the face M the figures it was obviously impossible to keep all the workshops employees fully at work.. These were not the only economies, because others would follow. He suggested that .the leaders of the railway organisations might consider the rationing of Work. He believed this was practicable, and he hoped to consult the organisations on, the subject. There Was not enough money in the railway account to employ all at full time, and if a more humane way could be found of meeting the situation he would be delighted. Every case was hard, hut he invited the men s leaders to submit details.of exceptional eases'. If future work Was - anticipated it was possible to keep things going, but the money was not available, locomotive building Was confined to 20 shunting engines. The Minister of Finance had limited revenue available, as it was low in all Departments, but there- Were features of capital expenditure undetf consideration. He cOlild make ho promises.at present. Alternative employment was a problem he must submit to the Minister of Public Works. He would.like to keep the men Within the service, and if a rationing scheme was practicable it would be adopted. "No More Men Wiil Be Put Off." Mr. Veitch emphatically stated that the Department was not dismissing men because they were low-grade. It was no attack on the rank and file. "I *ive you my word no more men will be put off," said Mr. Veitch. Mr. Mellvride; Can you retain the men whose notice is expiring to-day? The Minister undertook to consider this during the afternoon, but he could hot promise anything. j Answering a question from Mr. Mcllvride as to what he meant lty rationing, Mr. Veitch replied that if every man in the service, from the general manager downwards, gave ft Week's service without pay, ho hoped it might be possible to reabsorb the men who had been dismissed. The deputation left the Minister with the understanding that the executives of the A.S:R.S. and the Railway Tradesmen's Association would meet within it few days, and be ready on his return from Invercargill with definite opinions On the whole question of rationing of ivbrk in the railway service.