RAILWAYS DISPUTE

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 3, 28 September 1944, Page 4

RAILWAYS DISPUTE

Christchurch Stop-Work Meeting To Be Held NATIONAL OFFICIALS’ ADVICE NOT TAKEN (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 27. The Canterbury branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants yesterday received a telegram from the national president, Mr. J. Terry, and the general secretary, Mr. L. Mcllvride, advising it to call off the proposed stop-wotk meeting tomorrow morning because it was unconstitutional and did not have the support of the national executive, and because certain groups of the Canterbury members were opposed to the meeting. “The fact that some few of the higher wage rate railwaymen are opposed to the meeting is fully understood by the mass of the Canterbury branch members,” said the branch secretary, Mr. A. B. Grant, last night. “It was because of the effect that sqfih a conditioned outlook, resultant from different wage levels, had on previous occasions on the rank and file outlook and unity, that the Canterbury branch strongly objected to differentiation in the lower-paid men.” In an attempt to avoid further friction, > Mr. John Roberts, president of the Canterbury Trades Council, yesterday telephoned the A.S.R.S. headquarters office in Wellington and suggested that if the executive would agree that proposals from the branches would be considered before the national executive met. the Railways Tribunal, there was a possibility that the meeting would be called off, Mr. Grant said. “Mr. Mcllvride refused to consider any further proposals from the branches,” Mr. Grant added-, “and the meeting will be held as planned.” ’ Telegrams of support had been received from the branches at Auckland, Rotorua. Greymbuth and other places, and several stated that they were considering holding similar meetings of protest, Mr. Grant said.

APPEAL TO MEN TO PLAY GAME

Statement By Minister

“If Mr. Grant insists on throwing his weight about and obstructing a public service at a time like this, I can assure him he will get all the fight he is looking for; his threats'have no effect on me,” said the Minister of Railways, Mr. Semple, regarding Mr, Grant’s statement that the railways stop-work meeting in. Christchurch was still on. “Mr. Grant and a small group associated with him in defying his own organization and sabotaging the tribunal set up by Parliament to deal constitutionally, reasonably, and justly with auy dispute that may exist and clean up for all time any anomalies that may exist. “He is not only defying his own organization and attempting to smash that tribunal, but has declared war on the general public and is defying the Minister, and, through the Minister, the Government. “I make an honest appeal to the men’s common sense to give the tribunal a chance, to be loyal to their organization and not punish the general public, who are the innocent victims of this type of treachery on the part of Mr. Grant and a handful of others, I appeal to the. loyal railway servants to be true to their organization and faithful to the nation, particularly in a time of war when New Zealanders are dying hourly in the interests of the freedom and liberty, of this country without seeking additional privileges. I have all the faith in the world in. the tribunal as far as doing a fair thing for these men is concerned. “I don’t start with a pistol and stop with a threat and will take whatever action I deem advisable to stop Mr. Grant’s threatened action.. I appeal to the honest-to-God man in the service to play the game and ignore this type or individual and not be stampeded by irresponsibles into taking action that would upset the public service of this country, damage their cause, and be a black mark against their name, which stands high m public estimation. “Their record during the war has not been surpassed in any country in. the world, and for them to take such action at a time when their case is before a constitutional tribunal, set up for no other reason, than to deal with their case, would be suicide. “I ask them in the interests or the general public and the protection, .ot their good name, to ignore the individuals responsible for this business and’ to remain at their posts.as they done all through -these trying years.

EXECUTIVE’S POSITION

The sitting of the Railways Tribunal on October 9 to hear the claims of the men would be a priority sitting said the general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, Mr. L. Mcllvride, in a statement yesterday. The executive council of the society had not authorized the substitution of the claims which the Canterbury branch was advancing as it could only carry, out the policy laid down by the governing body of the society, the biennial conference. The department, Mr. Mcllvride continued, offered counter-proposals, which were subject to almost daily discussions, and were amended by the department front time to time. Though they contained many good features as a whole, they were not accepted by the-executive. The coun-ter-proposals were put forward as effecting all departments, and were in some ways unacceptable. They . were nuthdrawn by the department, whicn submitted further counter-proposals, intimating that they were final. These, also, were found not acceptable, and were witudrawn by the department. Negotiations broke down on September 20, leaving the original conference claims to. go to the Railways Tribunal, over which neither branches nor executive had any autlioiity, and this was the only logical or possible step.