Suspension Of Rail Workshops Council

Northern Advocate, 12 August 1948, Page 4

Suspension Of Rail Workshops Council

WELLINGTON, Thu. (P.A.) -r The suspension of the Woburn Railway Workshops Council pending a review of the question of worker-employer cooperation was referred to by the Minister of Railways (Mr Semple) in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. Mr R. Macdonald (G—Ponsonb J ) had asked the Minister whether he had seen an editorial in the Railway Review, the official organ of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, concerning the suspension of the Woburn Railway Workshops Council, and, if so, whether the Minister would immediately investigate the position with the view to granting railwaymen worker participation in the control of the industry. Mr Macdonald said previous committees had been merely advisory and consultative, at the mercy of departmental officials' veto.

EARLIER HOPES Mr Semple said in his written reply that he had hoped that the workshops council' set up at the Hutt railway workshops three years ago would function on the cooperative principle, fully representing the ideas of the workers and the management. “I believe something practical was achieved, but of late its operation has given me some concern and I have instructed the new management of the railways to review the whole matter and report to me,” said Mr Semple. He fully realised the potentialities of such councils in promoting a better employer-employee relationship, and there was no desire to veto the decisions of such a council when they were based on constructive thought. It was, however, obvious that the functions of such councils _ must be advisory and consultative, ‘ and that the general manager, in the interests of efficiency and fair dealing, must retain overall rights of management. SOME RUFFLED Speaking to his written answer at a later stage. Mr Semple said a resolu- | tion passed at the Hutt railway workshops last week criticising his adminj istration as Minister came from a few people who detested him because he had “dumped some of the Communists throughout this country.” He had “ruffled the feathers of a I few ratbags,” but the majority of the | railway workers supported his actions.