“PROFIT BEFORE JUSTICE"

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 February 1947, Page 7

“PROFIT BEFORE JUSTICE"

RAILWAYS TRIBUNAL AWARDS CRITICISED (P.A®) WELLINGTON, Feb. 6. “The society is of the opinion that the financial position of the railways received more consideration than the just claims of the society,” says a statement issued by the Amalgamated Society of the Railway Servants, representing 15,000 railwaymen, in reference to the decision of the Railways Tribunal announced to-day. “It is considered that if the wages and conditions of the employees are to be governed by the profit and loss sustained by the department then it is time the employee had some say in the management of the service,” continues the statement, which was issued by the biennial conference of the society at present sitting in Wellington. “It has been agreed by«the management in the past and by Ministers of Railways with divergent political opinions that the railways were constructed and run more as a developmental than a profit-making concern. “There was a strong inference at the tribunal by the departmental representatives that the financial state of the service would not allow of the further expenditure that would be entailed if improved conditions were granted. The statement continued that the railway service in which the rates and fares had remained practically static over the past few years, had to pay competitive prices much higher than those ruling before the war for all material and equipment necessary to run the service and shopld also be prepared to admit to the tribunal that competitive prices would be paid, for labour and that comparable conditions should be granted to employees. That, continued the statement, was the main cause 'of the serious staff shortage in the second division and the dissatisfaction of the staff was evidenced by, the great number of resignations. . , “We should have been pleased if a number of other claims had been granted,” said the president of the Railway Officers’ Institute, Mr. J. W. Shepherd, to-day, commenting on the Railway Tribunal’s decision, “but we have certainly made progress and the claims which have been allowed are ones that have been long outstanding. This should give general satisfaction.” SPRINTER EXPECTED AT WEEK-END (PA;) WELLINGTON, Feb. 6. Mr. J. W. Holley, secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, said to-day that John Treloar, the Australian sprinter, who is reported to be held up in Australia for lack of air transport, was expected by the week-end, probably by alternative air transport. PALESTINE CITIES “SEETHING WITH MOVEMENT” (Rec. 3.5 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 5. Ten large Halifaxes landed at Cairo with 170 British women and children from Palestine, says Reuter’s Cairo correspondent. They were taken in buses to British homes in the suburb of Maadi, where the New Zealand troops were quartered during the war. Planes, each carrying 17 evacuees, started a shuttle service at 8 a.m. local time. It is expected that they will transport 500 by nightfall. The Associated Press Jerusalem correspondent says that the cities which British familities are evacuating are seething with movement as British Government officials and the remaining civilians are moved into guarded compounds. The authorities have dispossessed 1000 Jews in Jerusalem to make way for the security compounds. The authorities have ordered the hotels and boarding-houses not to accept guests unless they are certified by the Palestine Government. AUCKLAND WINS IDLE ALONG TITLE (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 6. 1 Auckland (A. J. Dickinson), with 383.34 points, won the New Zealand Idle Along championship, which was concluded on Lyttelton harbour this morning. Bay of Plenty was second with 283.33 points, and Canterbury third with 281.67 points. . ; Bay of Plenty won this morning s race easily from Auckland and Wellington. ’ >