OTAHIMU MEN MEET

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 10, 11 July 1930, Page 11

OTAHIMU MEN MEET

BUSINESS PEOPLE. CRITICISED (Special to "The Evening .Post.") . . AUCKLAND, This Day. What is believed to be tho largest gathering of railwaymen in the history of the railway workshops was held at Otahuhu workshops during the lunch hour yesterday to protest against the dismissals of casual hands. Criticism was directed at the business community of Auckland city foi alleged apathy in the matter, and against the scale of salaries and supeiannuation in the higher grades ot the railway service. _ Mr J M'Dowell, chairman, ot the Otahuhu branch of the Railway Tradesmen's Association, presided. Air. J..Elliott, chairman of the-.New-market branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and formerly member of the North Island executive, addressed tho meeting. He said that in addition to 50 men whose notice would expire this week, 38 men had received a week's notice that day, making 88 dismissals in a fortnight from a total of about 1000 men employed at tho workshops. Ho said it was rumoured that tho staff was to be reduced, to the number employed when the workshops were in Newmarket. The following resolution was carried: "This mass meeting of 900 employees of the railway workshops at Otahuhu views with surprise* and astonishment the apathy of the business community of Auckland and elsewhere in allowing the Government without protest to dismiss hundreds of men, thereby preventing the circulation of money and incidentally cutting oft" the hand which feeds both- parties. . .We would specially emphasise the fact that scores ot these men are still suffering from tho horrors of the late war, and are being forced to '■ face inevitable starvation, soup, kitchens, and doss houses. Wo are further of opinioil that a penal rate should be placed on all motor traffic plying for hire adjacent to railway tracks. 'Furthermore, if tho Minister is sincere in hio economic research he will immediately investigate the worthless expenditure of £7500 on the 'Railway Magazine,' and also the comparatively huge increases which he recently granted to members of the First; Division, some of whom had their salaries increased' by creating a special! grade, made retrospective to April, 1929. Some of these increases were given to men already in receipt of from £13 to £18 a week. This was done at a time when his own statement was that railway revenue was deficient to the enormous extent of £1,250,000. We earnestly desire that the public bo made acquainted with at. least, some., justification for tho Minister's action in elevating theso officials when tho department and country are reported to be in financial distress, and the. wage worker, who is rendering useful service to the community, is being consigned to starvation."