RAILWAY SERVANTS GRIEVANCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12545, 12 April 1904, Page 5

RAILWAY SERVANTS GRIEVANCES.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—I'JtJiSS ASSOCIATION.] Wklungion, Monday. Speaking to-day to a deputatien representing the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the Minister for Railways said that with regard to the statement as to the bulk of the employees having been jockeyed out of their right to vote for coming under the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, it was clearly understood from the first that only the workshops soetioa was to vote, and that this was all that tha society wanted. With regard to the withdrawal of linst-u'.ass railway passes tor second division men when on transfer the Minister stated that this privilege had bean abused in tho past and the Department must see that those who paid for firstclass accommodation got it. With regard to steerage passage# for the same men when on transfer, the Minister said he would sob to that, which was taken to mean that saloon passages would be restored. Out of a hundred odd recommendations, the deputation specially commended to the Minister the demands foi a 48 hours' week, and for higher wages for tho lower-paid men. The Minister promised to look into these and other demand*. lie denied that the Department had through political inlluonee promoted labourers above lad porters who had worked through the grades. The meeting of tho Minister and the, employees concluded with mutual good wishes.