RAILWAY CRISIS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18051, 17 April 1924, Page 10

RAILWAY CRISIS.

BALLOT EXPECTED TO FAVOUR STRIKE.

NECESSITY OF A 48-HOUR

WEEK

(SPECIAL TO '"ran BBEBS "1

WELLINGTON, April 16.

There is little fresh to Btate regarding the present position of the railway trouble. Local railwaynien predict that the ballot will be in favour of a strike, probably about 20 per cent, of the men voting against it, but all the same, I venture to predict that there will be no strike; at all events there ■nail be no immediate strike.

The weakness of the reply of the general secretary to the Minister for Railways in regard to Cabinet's reoent decision, indicates that the officials find themselves in a cleft stick, and that a reasonable process of extrication with as little damage as possible would be welcomed. ; Meantime, the attitudo of the omcials of the A.B.R.S. will have served a useful purpose in focussing the attention of the general public on the necessity for the re-estnbiisliment of a 4S-hour week, if the railways are to bd successfully managed in the interest ol the country, and perhaps also m the interests of the men themselves. The light shed upon the queßtion of overtime payments is also all to the good. Very few, if any, of tile general public were aware that they were contributing to a system of double overtime, unique in railway working. The weakness of th<s statements of the officials of the A.S.R.S. is further illustrated by their assertion that the Departmental circular to the public emanated from the Farmers' Union. The Farmers' Union was in no way responsible for this circular.

POSITION MORE STRAINED.

ATTITUDE OF MEN'S EXECUTIVE (PRFSS ASSOCIAJtOK TELEGBMt.) WELLINGTON, April 16. The railway position is now more strain&d than, ever, and the indications are that the result' o£ the ballot, if favourable to a strike, is likely to be translated into effect. The ballot will close before the end of the week, and it is understood that the men are voting by a large majority in favour of ceasing work, in an attempt to got their wages increased. The attitude ■of members of the Government is that the railways cannot be run profitably on a 44-hour week basiß, but that if the A.S.B.S. can show< that they caa be so run, then the Society's suggestion can be considered. Mr M. J. Mack, general secretary of the A.S.E.S., has sent a letter to Mr Coates refusing on. behalf of the executive to accept responsibility for the position. The letter goes on:. —"lt.has already been pointed but. that the Reason f6r* our Wanting; 'to discuss wages before conditions was that' conditions ' very largely depend upon the rate of wages fixed. We informed both yourself and the chairman of the Board that .we were prepared to withdraw the conditions iii order to get a decision upon, wages, but this was also declined. We have reason to believe that had we desired to first discuss conditions before wages that your Department in' that case would have'desired to discuss wages before conditions. We are. forced to the conclusion that -no matter what attitude we had adopted in connexion with the dispute, there would hav,e been some excuse- raised to prevent a .satisfactory settlement thereof. v At the present moment we regret to say we have no further suggestions to ; offer."

MR HOLLAND'S OFFER. DECLINED BY GOVERNMENT. (pftESS ASSOCIAIION TELEGKAD:.) WELLINGTON April 16. The Prime Minister replied as follows to the offer to act as arbitrator in the railway: dispute telegraphed him by Mr H. B. Holland, M.P., Leader of the Parliamentary Labour Party: — '' Your telegram received. Thanks for offer contained therein. Government, however, feel quite competent to deal with the position which has arisen." . • the; 44-HOUR week. MR MASSEY DECLINES A • DEPUTATION. IPBES3 ASSOCIATION TELEGEAH.) i WELLINGTON, April 16. Mr J. Roberts,, secretary of the New Zealand Alliance of Labour, informed a representative of the "New Zealand Times'' that the Alliance of Labour and Trades and Labour Council had desired a joint deputation to the Prime Minister on the question of the 44-hour week. The Prime Minister, however, had refused to receive the deputation on the ground that lie was too busy. The deputation, said Mr Roberts, was representative of organised workers not only in Wellington but right throughout New Zealand, and if it had been allowed to meet the Prime Minister, its representations might have assisted to settle the railway trouble. '' Since I have been secretary of the New Zealand Alliance of Labour, this is the first time I have met refusal from any Minister to receive a deputation on an important matter of this kind. The Alliance of Labour is forwarding a report to all affiliated bodies, informing them of the action of the Prime Minister in refusing to meet a deputation."

SUPPORT FROM HILLSIDE. (PHESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, April 16. At a large meeting at Hillside Workshops a resolution was carried recording confidence in the present executive, and congratulating it on the splendid fight put up on behalf of the railway workers on the wages question, and pledging itself to carry out any instructions the executive ;may give.