THE DISMISSALS OF WORKMEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11841, 19 December 1901, Page 4

THE DISMISSALS OF WORKMEN.

A letter which we publish in another column from a workman at Ongaruhe contains some important information. It would appear that it was the original intention to completely clear the works on the Trunk railway, but that the prompt and energetic manner in which we. dealt with the subject has had the effect of compelling the Government to put on as many hands as will at all events keep things going. We hope, too, that this was owing in some measure to the recognition by Ministers of the special importance or the Auckland and Wellington railway. The Premier has told the people in the South several times within the past few days that the North Island Main Trunk railway is the most important public work now before the colony, and probably a good healthy agitation in Auckland will cause him to realise that still more fully. The operations, up till these dismissals commenced, now some time since, were not being pushed on at any remarkable speed, and we think it is a fair demand that at the commencement of the New Year they should be fully resumed. If the Government must economise there is an abundance of other directions in which they can save money. If after the New Year they fully man the works again at both ends we shall not inquire very curiously as to how they came to make these sudden discharges.