RAILWAY WORKSHOPS EMPLOYEES

Evening Star, Issue 20980, 19 December 1931, Page 14

RAILWAY WORKSHOPS EMPLOYEES

’ — l— OF WORK OPPOSED THE CASUAL MEN v. „[SPECIAL to THE ‘STAR.’] WELLINGTON, December 19. . “ The employees of the railway workshops are definitely against rationing of work,” states Mr Ingram, general secretary of the Railway Tradesmens Association, who has just completed a tour of the chief workshops-to discusa this subject with the men. Formerly a skilled tradesman’s wage was £5 3s 7d a week, hut with the wage cuts* superannuation, sick benefit deductions, increased rents, and the wages tax them net wage is £4 13s. .‘They feel, said Mr Ingram, “.that they have reachedthe limit" of their sacrifice and cannot manage on less.. - Our men uatui-ally, are anxious to help then’ fellows,_ 200. of whom are’ under notice of but they canndt manage it, nor do we think there is a necessity for such a drastic curtailment, following on ai long series of. disniissals, as the railwayj workshops now have got to "a stage where the department has dispensed with some of its normal staff and, has less than the number needed for coping with the normal maintenance programme.” - . . , ~ / There was a recent interview of the Tradesmen’s Association's representatives with Mr Coates, as Minister of; Unemployment,: to discuss the-work-shops’ dismissals. Mr Coates then asked the men’s organisation to. undertake and ascertain the • opinion of ’members on the.rationing systemv With. a view to obviating further dismissals,though it was known that the. Railway, Board had expressed an adverse opinion on this system. Mr Coates considered that under the circumstances if the men gave definite approval to it that he might be able to induce the Railway Board to accept rationing. , Mr Ingram expresses the opinion that as many of the casuals now -under; notice have from twelve to twenty years’ service- with the department they-should be regarded in the sama position as permanent members, and not be dismissed. ' If the proposed dismissals eventuate there would be .no; casuals left in the Otahuhu, Hillside,' and Addington Workshops, and only ai small number at Lower Hutt.