HOW MR. MASSEY RECEIVED THE NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LII, Issue 5465, 28 April 1920, Page 5

HOW MR. MASSEY RECEIVED THE NEWS.

LOCO. MEN’S REPLY TO PRiUVIE MINISTER’S APPEAL.

“CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT YOUR ASSISTANCE.”

AIR. AIASSEY DECIDES TO PUBLISH MEN’S CASE BEFORE TRIBUNAL. 49 Press Association Telegram' ROTORUA. April 27. Rumors of the possibles toppage ol the railways In the midst of tlie celebrations attendant on the Prince’s visit are exciting the keenest interest aa the town is full d people who are deeply concerned as to the manner of getting away iir the event of the hold-up of the service coming to pass. Mr. Massey, Minister of Railways, was in • communication with Air. McArley. general secretary of the En~ ginedrivers’ Association, during the day, but tlie position was uncertain at 9 o’clock to-night. The first telegram from Mr. AioArle.y to the Minister read as follows : “Locomotive men have unanimously decided to cease work at midnight Tuesday, J?7th inst. To this Mr. Massey replied:—

“Your telegram* received, tlie contents of which I was very sorry to read. I trust that even now wiser counsels may prevail, and that at all events while our Royal visitor is the guest of New Zealand peace may prevail between the railwaymen and the State. Anything in the way of a strike just now would ho a disgrace to the whole of the Dominion, and more especially to those who become responsible for it. The fair name of New Zealand is at stake, and on that account as well as for other reasons I appeal to your Society to refrain from the contemplated action. Tlie railwaymen of this country have had up to the present a wellearned reputation for lovalty, and it would be a matter for extreme regret if that reputation were tarnished by the action \.f any section of the railway employees.” A later telegram from Air. AlcArley to Air. Massey was brief. It was as follows: “Impossible to hold strike hack without your assistance.” The Minister then addressed the following telegram to Air. AlcArley: “Your further telegram received. Aly assistance has so far not been asked for. You oven declined to state your grievances to me on the occasion of my recent meeting with the representatives of vour Society. It referred me, when I asked. what your troubles were, to the evidence given before Air. Justice Stringer’s Board of Inquiry. The responsibility for what may happen is yours, though if I can prevent further trouble I shall lie very glad to do anything possible.” Late to-night the Minister fotRailways received the following further telegram from Air. Lowin, pro, sklent, and Air. AY. AlcArley, secretary of tlie locomotive men’s association :

“Your telegram received, and in reply I rcsepctfully desire to remind you that you agreed to read tiie evidence given by the Association before tlie Board and which was a very full statement of our troubles. They expected you to read the evidence and go into all points therein. However,' we appreciate your ofler and again repeat that-' we can do nothing further without vour assistance.” The Alinister replied to this as follows :- '

“Replying to your latest telegram may I remind you that b was only when von refused to state your case to tlie General Alanager and myself that I said I would read the evidence which was placed before Air. Justice Stringer. I intend to publish the whole of your statement before the Board and let the public judge for themselves as to whether you were justified in taking up your present position.”

AYELFARE LEAGUE URGES RECONSIDERATION.

TELEGRAMS TO E.F.C.A. AND PREMIER.

'WELLINGTON. April 27. "When the news of the intention of the engine drivers to strike became known the New Zealand Welfare League, which had already interested itself in the dispute, sent the following telgram to Mr. MeArley, secretary of the union :—“Welfare League deplores the possibility of a lightning strike hy your members. Apart front the grave inconvenience to the public and the dislocation of all .Dominion business such a course would be condemned by the whole public and would militate against an equitable adjustment of your members’ claims. The time of the Prince’s visit renders the strike especially inopportune. Me urge you to consider your grave responsibility. The League is in favor of a fair and just consideration of your demands, but if you persist in striking we must support the Government and the public. We feel satisfied that the whole community will take that view. If action is postponed during the Prince’s visit you would secure the approval.of the whole country and their help in getting a full consideration and fair settlement of your claims. Although you may have reason to think that the delay in dealing with the question has been excessive, we are satisfied that the above is the wiser course in your own interests. The League will vigorously nress oil the Government the immediate consideration of your demands. ’ At the same time the League sent a copy' of the above message to the Prime Minister, with the following addition addressed to Mr. Massey himself“We earnestly urge that no delay will take place in the adoption of some course to determine the men’s grievances. We cannot see any objection to setting up a Labor Disputes Committee under the Act or 1913, and yve believe that an assurance from you that this will he done will avert or at least postpone an immediate strike and <?ive time for proper adjustment.’

STATEMENTS BY LOCO! MEN’S EXECUTIVE. “WE COULD HOLD SOUTH ISLAND MEN.” “NOIiTH ISLAND MEN OUT OF HAND.” Press Association Telegram. WELLINGTON. April 27. The executive of the Locomotive Mon’s Association met to-night and communicated with the Prime Minister by telegrams. Late in the evening the position yvns stated to be unchanged. "We think that "e can hold the South .Island, but the North Island is absolutely out of hand, said the secretary of the Association if Mr. MeArley). “We bad to let them go; the men would wait no longer and their resolutions passed at very large meetings were absolutely definite. Some people seem to think that tlm North Island men arc out because the Prince of Wales is here. That is not so at all. If wo bad been able to bold the North Island we yvould have done so. Wo have had numerous telegrams from some of . the branches in the South Island asking to he allowed to join their comrades in the North Island, hut we have instructed all the southern men to stay at work.”