THE RAILWAY SERVICE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 29 August 1919, Page 3

THE RAILWAY SERVICE

MEN AND MANAGER

Three months ago the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, on behalf of the second division railway men other than engine-drivers and firemen's organisation, completed an agreement with the railway management in regard to wages and working conditions, the latter being highly important, as they included inauguration of a 44----hour week in the railway workshops, and a 48-hour week in other branches of the service. This agreement was only secured after much criticism within the railwaymen's society, but it was ratified by a general conference of delegates from branches. Since that time a number of complaints have been made that the management had not carried out the agreement in the liberal spirit which was anticipated, as the result of the General Manager's promises, and matters recently came to a head.

The Executive Council interviewed the General Manager to declare that if he stood by methods which had been adopted in carrying out the agreement there could be no further discussion of grievances, but the society would have to reconsider the whole "position. A number of instances were quoted in which complicated working hours had been arranged in the traffic department, with the object, it was suggested by railwaymen, %f defeating the agreement regarding improved working conditions.

Mr McVilly, when placed in possession of details of these complaints, explained that he did not stand for the principles which appeared to be involved. He wished to give the men tangible benefits. "I cannot understand," he explained to the men's executive, "how we have got to the position which you say exists, because there was no instruction that could be interpreted, directly or indirectly, or twisted to mean the inauguration of a system such as you say exists." Mr McVilly explained later in an interview that his time had been so much taken up with coal difficulties that delay had taken place in adjusting, complaints over the working of the new agreement.

The executive of the A.S.R.S. accepted his explanation and promise to rectify their grievances, especially in the way of avoiding unnecessary intermittent shifts, and the interview, which appears to have been quite heated in its early stages, ended with an expression from the men's representatives that they looked forward with confidence to the General Man•ager's consideration of their grievances.

It is evident that had headquarters administration of the railways shown approval of some of the methods of bringing about an eight-hour day and a 48-hour week in the railway services that another serious breach would have occurred. As for the engineers, firemen and cleaners' dispute with the Railway Department, the men are awaiting the issue of regulations concerning new conditions before deciding whether they will be accepted.

OVERSEA STEAMERS. Athenic (S.S.A.), left London July 14 for Wellington. Due Sept. 1. Ayrshire (F.S.), left London Aug. 2 Due Lyttelton Sept. 20 Durham (F.S ), left Liverpool May 21 .for Australia. Due Wellington Aug. 16. EUeaga, left Egypt July 23 for ¥.Z. Due Aug. 28. Giessen (CD ), left London June 23 for Wellington. Due Aug. 20. Hcrorata (N.Z.S. Co.), loft London July 28, via Cape. Due Wellington Sep. 15. Karamea (S.S.A.) left London July 9 for Auckland and Wellington via Capetown and Hobart. Due Auckland Sept. 7. Kuinara (S.S.A.), left London July 25 for New Zealand. Due Sept. 4. Masula (A. and A.), left New York 'July 18 for Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin. Due Auckland Aug. 29. Port Alma (CD.), leaves New York in August for Australia and New Zealand. Due Wellington end of Sept. Port Lyttelton (C. and D.) left Plymouth June 17 for Auckland, Napier, and Wellington, via Australia; due [Wellington Sept. 4. ■ Porb Melbourne" (CD.), left London July 4 ior New Zealand, via Australia. Due Wellington Sept. 18. Westmeath (A. and A.), left New York July 20 for Wellington and Australia. Due Wellington Aug. 29. Port Elliott—Due Wellington end »f August; to leave ~ew York in July. (C. and D. Line). ■ Ellenga—Due New Zealand August ■28th; left Suez July 23rd. Cordoba —Due Wellington August 30 ; left United Kingdom, July 18, via Cape- . town. Tofua—Due Wellington August 26; left San Francisco August 5. (Union Co.) , Waioara—Due Auckland Sept. 2; due Wellington Sep. 8: left Montreal July 26. ' ■ Lorain —Due Auckland Sept. 5: due Wellington Sept. 10; left New York: ■Ang 2. (U.S. and A. Line). ! Tainui —Due Wellington Sept. 23; left Plymouth Aug. 8. (Shaw Savill.) Corinthic —Due Wellington Sept. 24; left Plymouth Aug. 9'(Shaw Savill.)