RAILWAY LABOURERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14682, 13 May 1908, Page 4

RAILWAY LABOURERS.

PAY AND HOURS. A slight trouble has arisen in regard to the position of somo labourers employed on tho Canterbury railways. A gang of twenty-one has been employed at a ballast pit near Burnham. Up to the present time they have assembled at Christchurch railway station at 7 a.m., when they have reported, themselves. A train has left the station to take them to their work at 7.30, reaching the pit about half an hour later. They have been paid Is an hour while working, and the working time has been computed by the ganger from 7.30, giving thorn the benefit of tho time occupied in going to the pit, although they have given tho Department the half-hour spent at tho Christchurch station

Yesterday tho train was delayed on the road, and it did not reach tho pit until 9.10 a.m. Lately a fresh ganger has been in charge, and he informed the men xhat their working time would be computed from 9 a.m., instead of 7.30 a.m., as previously The men protested, and there was some discussion, but the ©anger stocd to the position he had taken up, and the whole gang then left work and came back to Christchurch in the ballast train, with the object of interviewing the chief engineer. In the meantime,-- it appears, the ganger took the men's action as a strike, although it was not intended in that way. He sent a telegram to that effect to the headquarters in Christchurch, and engaged another gang to continue tho work to-day-. In Christchurch tho men were informed that they would be paid off, and that the ganger was correct in announcing that their working time would bo computed from 9 o'clock, instead of 7.30*. The men feel that they have been tToatcd harshly and unjustly. They point out that fcome of them have to speiid quite half an hour before reaching the Christchurch station. Another half hour is taken from them there, and now it is proposed to take yet another half .hour out of their working day,' reducing their wages to a fairly large extent.

The officers, on the other hand, point out that the regulations set put the position very clearly, stipulating that tho men should not bo paid for the time occupied in going to their work. Mr H. G. Ell, M.P., with whom the men communicated, inquirod into the matter, and was shown a copy of the regulations. Ho telegraphed to the Hon W. Hall-Joneo, Minister of Railways, asking that the men. should ba reinstated, and suggesting that tho regulations should bo altered, so that tho time spent in going to the pit may he counted in the day's work. Several of the men are married, and they feel that if they are dismissed for their action they will suffer some hardship.