MEN DISAPPOINTED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21852, 24 October 1945, Page 6

MEN DISAPPOINTED

NO GENERAL INCREASE DIRTY COAL ALLOWANCE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 24. “We are naturally disappointed at the tribunal’s failure to grant our application for a general wage increase,” said Mr. P. Johnson, national president of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, alter a brief study of tbe findings. "While considerable improvements have been made in respect oi certain long-standing grievances, we feel that we did make out a case for a general increase in wage rates. This is particularly so because oi the Tribunal's attitude after previous sittings that what we were given only brought us into line with other sections of the community. We had hoped that the tribunal would take into account the fac.t that those other sections of the community subsequently received increases which created the same position as had existed oefore. “The whole position, of course, will be considered by our national executive council which meets next month.” Increased Coal Allowance

The general secretary of the Enginedrivers, Firemen and Gleaners' Association, Mr T. H. btepnenson, commenting on the increased coal allowance, said: "The allowance that is granted now is to be reviewed in six months, if the coal position improves then naturally that additional allowance will go. There does not seem to be much prospect of the position improving so lar as I can see.

“The dir.ty coal position in the Taranaki district will be reviewed by a conterence which meets next Wednesday, and the men tnemselves have agreed to carry on until the end of the year. This is only out of loyalty to the department and the Government and in an. endeavour to give the public Uie oenetit of the increased supplies that might be available for travel at Christmas time. If it were not lor the fact that that coal will be burned between now and Christmas it would mean that trains tnat might be run now could not possibly run.” Comment on behalf of the Railway Officers’ Institute was not available yesterday in the absence from Wellington of tne general secretary, Mr. J. S. Roscoc, who is in the South Island. The national president, Mr. J. W. Shepherd, is in Auckland. Mr. T. F. Gebbie, general secretary of the Railway Tradesmen’s Association, expressed disappointment at the rejection of some ol flic major claims, but remarked that certain worthwhile advances had been made. He added that after a study of the findings he would make a statement ■on behalf of the R-T.A.