A BOMBSHELL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 411, 21 January 1909, Page 7

A BOMBSHELL.

ADDINGTON WORKSHOP METHODS. MEETING OF THE MEN. SURPRISE AND INDIGNATION. • (HI TBI.SGIUH! - I'IIESS ISHOCIITION.) ' , ' Chrlstohurch, January 20. During their half-hour's luncheon adjournment to-day ovor 300 of tho men employed at Addington railway workshops held a meeting to discuss tho goneial manager's letter to the chief m«ohanical engineer at Wellington, forwarded to tho workshops manager, and) which passed severe strictures upon tho methods under which tho work at the Addington shops was carried out. ' 'Tho chairman of tho meeting said it was by rio means with feelings of pleasure that ho ;had consented to preside and to address tho- moh.; Thoy were gathered to consider the" general manager's letter, and he thought if thoy allowed it to go forth uncontradicted thoy would ho considered thioughout tho Dominion, aye, and throughout the world, as anything but men. (Applause.) They had seen' tho letter in the newspapers for the first time. (A Voice: "It's a lot of rot.") For tho benefit of thoso who had not seen it, he Would read what tho manager thought of ■;tb,om>>v,'s.' -rtv ~; .-..w ■ .:,- ■-:■ .-• -' ■ ■

Having read tho lotter, the speaker said they, weia not present to go into the question of whether the charges wero truo or not. They were thero to say whether they would remain under tho stigma or prove themselves men',and demand an inquiry. It was no usbV getting excited. The question was whether they would lie down to it or stand up for thoir rights. The simplest method would bo. to demand an inquiry into the charges made by Mr. Eonayne. Tho matter was not so much ono of the opinion of a consulting pngincor or the greatest engineer the railways had got. The point was that their"good name was being stolen. Thero was' no need for a drastic resolution, but mefely for ono demanding an immediate inquiry. „ • Ono of tho men moved:— ' "That this meeting of railway employees ', at Addington' Workshops do- • -mauds that tho fullest inquiry be mada into the charges made by a so-called expert ' engineer as*'mentioned in the N general' manager's letter, and that a - copy of,the resolution be forwarded to the Minister for, Railways." The motion was seconded. In tho course of the subsequent discussion one of tho" speakers said they wanted a publio inquiry befoio'a magistrate—not before Departmental officers or anyone else—and that' Mr. Ronayno should bring his informant facfe lb face, with the men. • Tho motion was carried, unanimously, and the meeting dispersed, with cheers for the chairman. >

::The.<rriep,w:M axoi surprised•:arid..indignant,'at- the/charges several . Mr.'; Rori.ayne's letter, ./came' \ as' a perfect bombshell ; among' ; them'; ■'-,there,; being; riot ■ the slightest indicatipn..|ive'n, previously"that: such serious dissatisfaction' was: entertained'at headqua'r-terH/'>-^'rB:.;;::' J ; ; ;'«- ! ;!'^'-.'•-'.;■':' ■:■' .-■'':' - ■}:

:: Some of'tbeim'ore impetuous of ;..the Lands, during lunch ; time/ ; wera;bußbling':.over with' explanations arid-; assertion's,'indicating the baselessness of :'theVcharges,j:out'!tho;;older .handsdisplayed mori), discretion,'and preferred (in View, of an inquiry probablyr being Md) : to :emulflt,e the example of "Brer Rabbit," and keep their information for a properly-constituted tribunal.' However,-it is easy to'glean.that something.is behind the present trouble, and the general impression is that a more or less serious breach between the administrative and executivo heads has occurred, and that search is being made for a scapegoat. General sympathy is expressed towards Mr.iHcndorsonjtjforeman-'of' the 'boiler-shop, who - was ' specially mentioned in the manager s Hter. It,was agreed that he was a firm' 'and., that his .depart mont'fras specially noted for'the observance of the rules. >

4'l,wouldn't like him to catch me loafing," one youth'remarked. "I'd soon hear about it, I give you my word." . tt',is generally considered that it was unfait\that the testimony of some un-named outsider should have been accepted unreservedly by the authorities, without apparently attempting to verify the statements bv a series of inspections, or by a semi-official inouiry. i 'ft, was pointed otit in regard to the cost of engines constructed by the Messrs. Price being much lower than the cost of engines turned.out at Addington, that Addington Workshops had to manufacture a great deal of the heaw work for Price's. Among the trade in town, on the other hand, there is a general feeling that there is a good deal of truth in what has been saw* regarding the "Givernment stroke," not only at Addington, but all other Government workshops. Political influence is claimed to be.at the bottom of the whole problem. ' INQUIRY TO BE'HELD. . The Minister for Railways (Hon. J. A. MilJar) has authorised an inquiry into the allegations of loafing and leisurely methods at tne,'Addmgton Workshops. The results will probably not be available for several days.