TWO SHILLINGS A DAY

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1917, Page 3

TWO SHILLINGS A DAY

RAILWAYMEN’S DEMAND.

Following' up interviews by the president (Mr IL Hampton) and the general secretary (Mr At- JMack) of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants with the Minister for Railways (Hon. W. IT- Kerries). the secretary has written to the Minister (states the Railway Review), making urgent representations regarding an increase in wages of not less than 2s per day to all classes of men employed in the railway serviceThe letter stales that il has long since been found that Is per day war bonus is totally inadequate lo meet the continued increase in Hie cost of living, and as a result men arc not only getting into debt, hut are leaving (he service, not because they dislike their occupation, hut because they cannot live and keep their families decently on Hie wages they receive, and that by remaining in Hie service their position is becoming progressively worse, whilst by resigning now their refund of superannuation contributions will clear them of Hieir liabilities ami keep them until other suitable employment is found, “lie have hesitated to make representations until we were absolutely sure of Hie position Hie writer continues), hut we now have, and submit for your perusal statements from various families as to their cost of living, and 1 am sure that the statements forwarded will satisfy you as to the genuine nature of our request, especially when it is considered that the statements do not include clothing, hoots, doctors. medicine, and in many cases tram fares.

uni sure Hull onr loyalty to the Government til this period is not questioned-. Onr men have h“en, a ,w l are now. working overtime. This overtime has helped to defer Hie time of making our request, hut Hie limit of endurance has been reached, and any further extension of hours cancel he undertaken, hut n> fact will he 'strenuously opposed, because ii cons!ilutes a crave danger not only to the men them,Lives. hul io the public generally, no matter how willing Die men mav hi' to undertake the same- The position, therefore, is now a vow serious one. and the executive of my organisation cannot farther conscientiously a,sk Hie men lo further defer their requests, Wo urge, there fori', that you will in a practical way indicate to (ho men a "■eimiue desire on the nart of the Government to retain their services, by giv.imr them not only a living watre. Imt a margin lor clothing, bools, illness. etc., which at present Hiey do not receive.'’