ALL TRAINS AS USUAL

Grey River Argus, 28 September 1944, Page 4

ALL TRAINS AS USUAL

DEPARTMENT’S PROMISE Despite Stop-work Meeting CHRISTCHURCH, Sept. 27. ( “All trains will run as usual, ’ was the only comment offered tonight by the Railways Department on the reported intention of the Canterbury branch of the A.S.R.S. to proceed with a stop-work meeting to-morrow morning between 7.15 and 9 o’clock. No information is available as to what measures the department is taking to man the trains leaving Christchurch during this period, but it was stated that all would carry full crews. MIN IST E R’SJSTATE WENT. Hon. R. Semple referred to a statement attributed to Mr A. B. Grant, secretary of the Canterbury Branch of the A.S.R.S. that the stop-work meeting called for Thursday was still on. He said: “If Grant insists on throwing his weight about and obstructing a public service at a time like this I can assure him he will get all the fight he is looking for. His threats; will have no effect on me.’’

Mr Semple said that Grant and a small group associated with him were defying their own organisation, and sabotaging the tribunal set up by Parliament to deal constitutionally and justly with any dispute, and clean up for all time any anomalies which might exist. “He is not only attempting to smash the tribunal, but has declared war on the general public, and is defying the Minister and the Government,” declared Mr Semple, who appealed to the men’s commonsense to give the tribunal a chance, to be loyal to their organisation, and not punish the general public who are innocent victims of this type of treachery. He had all the faith in the world in the tribunal as far as doing the fair thing for these men was concerned. “I don’t start with a pistol and stop with a threat, and will take whatever action I deem advisable to stop Grant’s threatened action.”

BRANCH SECRETARY'S REPLY HEAD A.S.R.S. OFFICE BLAMED. CHRISTCHURH, Sept. 27. “The meeting will be held with the support of all sections of the A.5.R.5.,” said Mr A. B. Grant, secretary of the Canterbury branch. “The meeting,” he said, “would, however, have been cancelled if the head ' office of the A.S.R.S. had conceded the right of the men to make further suggestions before the executive met the Wages Tribunal. The men are adament that no agreement I which means loss in wages and confditions will be accepted. This afterInoon at a special meeting of seniormen, the guards, a resolution was adopted supporting the branch in its attitude and in holding a meeting.” In commenting on statements made by the Minister of Railways (Mr Semple), Mr Grant said that, in stating a case for Canterbury members, which was his task as chief executive officer of the branch, he had scrupulously refrained from indulging in personalities, and he had no wish to enter into personal controversy with the Minister. - Neither under-statement nor untruth had been made on behalf of the branch. “The branch has at no time threatened to dislocate traffic, and it concedes readily that the department is entitled to make whatever arrangements it can to carry on traffic,” concluded Mr Grant. MATTER FOR TRIBUUAL. SAYS A.S.R.S. NATIONAL SECRETARY. WELLINGTON, September 27. Mr L. Mcllvride, general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, said to-day that the men’s claims would be heard by the Railways Tribunal on October 9. It would b e a priority sitting. The Executive Council had not authorised substitution of the claims, as it was only carrying out the policy laid down by, the conference. The Department had offered counter-proposals which had been subject to almost daily discussions and were amended by the Department from time to time. Although they contained many good features as a whole, they are not accepted by the executive. The Department’s counter-proposals were made as affecting all departments in. some ways. They were unacceptable and they were withdrawn by the Department, which submitted further counter-proposals intimating that this last offer vyas final. These also were found unacceptable and were withdrawn by the Department Negotiations broke down on September 20 leaving the original conference claims to go before the Railways Tribunal over which neither branches nor the Department exerted influence. This was the only logical or possible step. GREY BRANCH VOTE. “NO-CONFIDENCE” IN NATIONAL COUNCILLORS. Mr W. Bell, secretary of the Greymouth Branch of the A.S.R.S. yesterday stated: At a largely attended meeting of the Greymouth Branch, last evening, the following resolution was carried by a large majority: “That we support the action of the Canterbury Branch in deciding to hold a stop-work meeting of their Branch on Thursday, September 28.” The Branch discussed at length the Canterbury action in carrying a vote of no-confidence in the executive councillors, and passed a similar resolution by a large majority. Mr Bell said there was no doubt that grave unrest prevailed among railwaymen all over New Zealand This unrest was likely to result in the Greymouth Branch having to take action similar to Canterbury by holding a stop-work meeting.