RAILWAYMEN’S STOPWORK MEETING

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 4, 29 September 1944, Page 4

RAILWAYMEN’S STOPWORK MEETING

Public Not Affected NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE IN NATIONAL EXECUTIVE (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 28. A resolution of no confidence in the national executive of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants was passed at a .stop-work meeting by the Canterbury branch of the society this morning. Between 600 and 700 members attended the meeting. While it was in progress trains left Christchurch as usual and no untoward incidents were reported.

As far as the general public were concerned there was nothing to show that a stop-work meeting was in progress. AU trains were fully mann'ed and the Invereargill express, with fifteen cars fully occupied, was only a few minutes late iu departure. Some little inconvenience was experienced by travellers who had difficulty in finding porters, but otherwise all departures were up to schedule. Resolutions passed unanimously at the meeting were: “That the branch repeats that under no circumstances will branch members accept any schedule of wages which creates a -differentiation in the basic wage of workers. We repeat that we shall not accept any proposals which, take away from the conditions which have been hard won over a long period of years. The branch also requests that casual labourers now known as ‘out of hour casuals’ should be extended similar rights to those pertaining to permanent employees and should be guaranteed a fortyhour week’s work. The branch requests that before negotiations are continued branches must be given the right to make further proposals.” After repeating the vote of no confidence in the national executive of the A.S.R.S., the meeting expressed its appreciation of the support given them from, other branches of the A.S.R.S. and from trades unions.

MINISTER’S COMMENT

“Notwithstanding the. threat to disrupt traffic and inconvenience .the general public, there was no inconvenience whatever and traffic went on normally,” said the Minister of Railways, Mr. Semple, yesterday afternoon, commenting on the Christchurch stop-work meeting. “I am thankful to the good sense, and loyalty of the men who ran the services and gave the public the service as usual. I was confident that they would respond to my appeal, and that has been done.”