PERSONAL CONTACT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 50, 1 March 1937, Page 11

PERSONAL CONTACT

MINISTER AND MEN

MR. SULLIVAN'S POLICY

BETTER CONDITIONS

(By "The Post's" Special Reporter.)

A policy, of personal contact with the men has been adopted by the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan), who, in an address to railwaymen at Palmerston North on Saturday night, stated .that he did not want any barrier to exist between himself and those in the service. The gathering was arranged by the railwaymen's organisations of the district. The Minister stated that the Department was working on a scheme to improve the position of the engine drivers and firemen. .•.••.-..■: :..: - : Mr. A. T. Bedingfield, president of the Palmerston North branch. of the Railway Officers' Institute,' said that the railwaymen of the city were deeply grateful to the Minister for consenting to .meet them, and discuss their problems with them. He could assure the Minister that the men were anxious to co-operate with the Government and the management in furthering the ideals of the railway service. . Mr. J. Hodgens, M.P., also extended a welcome to T Mr..Sullivan, and expressed his pleasure at being asked to attend the function as a guest. He could assure the men that the Minister would, give their representations every consideration, as the Government was out to help every section of the community. The Prime Minister was a man of the highest ideals, and he had inspired the whole of the Government party with those ideals. The programme they were carrying out would result in the uplifting of the economic conditions of the people. It was soundly based on" justice and welfare, and w»uld give to all who rendered service to the community economic security and their rightful share in the fruits of the country's, productivity. THANKFUL WIVES. Mr. J. B. Thompson, representing the National Union'■ of Railwaymen, said that they were grateful for what the Government had already done for them. Their wives especially were deeply thankful for the restoration of the wage cuts, as it had made their homes much happier places. The railwaymen had faith in the Government, but, knowing that those who had been without jobs were deserving of first consideration, they would have been content to wait until the more unfortunate sections of the community had been provided for. However, the Government in its\ wisdom had legislated for the benefit of the State employees also, and they had been gener6usly treated. The railway employees were proud of the fact that two former members of the service, Messrs. A. F. Moncur and J. B. Cotterill, were members of the Government party in the Lower House, and that- a third, the Hon. M. Connelly, had been appointed to the Legislative Council. They were also pleayjd that, the services to the movement of the Hon. M. Briggs had been recognised.- The railwaymen of Palmerston North asked the Minister to convey a message of loyalty to the Prime Minister, assuring him of their fullest co-operation. In any requests they made they did not want to harass or hurry the Government in any way, but were content :to wait, knowing that they would get justice. ' "For the first time we have a poor man's Government in New Zealand," said Mr. A. E. Johnson, representing the Enginedriyers', Firemen, and Cleaners' Association. The shorter working week, he stated, had been a fine achievement, as they knew it was a difficult accomplishment within the capitalist system, which was based _on profit and not service. His organisation were not satisfied with the rate of promotion, but realised that the present unsatisfactory position was a legacy of the past and not the fault of the present Administration. He knew of one man who had had to work for 17 • years as a fireman before becoming an' engine driver. He would have to work another,nine years before he achieved the maximum wage, which, after deductions, was £5 10s 5d a week. There were' many others in similar circumstances. It was not right that men should have to work for 25 to 30 years before receiving the maximum rate of pay, and .they hoped that their remuneration would be fixed at a figure commensurate with their services. That could easily be done under a co-ordinated and- economic system of "transport. MINISTER'S REPLY. • In reply, Mr. Sullivan thanked the speakers for their kindly references to the Government. In Mr. Hodgens they had an able member, whose ability had been of great value to the Government, Parliament, and the people as a whole. He had done particularly fine work as chairman of the Industries and Commerce Committee of the House. The Minister said that he had been particularly thrilled at the appointment to the Upper House of the Hon. M. Brigg. Mr. Sullivan said that it was his policy to establish personal contact with the employees in his Department, but owing to pressure of work he had not: been able to make all the contacts he wished. They had been left administrative problems by the previous Government and on top of that had put through a large amount of legislation in keeping with their promises to the electors. The result was that Ministers had been working up to eighteen hours a day. However, he hoped to make more extensive contacts with the men in the near future. He realised the difficulties of the_ engine drivers and firemen, and had discussed them with the national organisation. Those difficulties had been the, direct result of a policy which had been pursued for some years past. The position was now being remedied, although it would be some time before it would be completely satisfactory. The main thing was that they were moving in the right direction. The Minister made a plea for co-operation among all branches of the service.

Mr. E. Casey, Assistant General Manager of Railways, said that it was the aim of the management to establish a bond of mutual trust with the rank and file. They were always ready to hear representations, but at the same time they' had to sift the practical from the unpractical."