DISCONTENTED OFFICERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17456, 28 April 1920, Page 7

DISCONTENTED OFFICERS.

CRITICISM OF MINISTER.

SIDE-TRACKING THE DISPUTE.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PBKSS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday.

The following resolution was carried unanimously at a special general' meeting of members of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Railway Officers' Institute :--

"We, the members of the Wellington branch ol the New Zealand Railway Offi ters' Institute, are astonished to learn that the Prime Minister and Minister for Railways hare failed to grasp the fact that Mr. Justice Stringer's findings with reference to the claims placed before the Wages P.oard on behalf of the railway officers are totally inadequate to meet the reasonable demands made, and consider any new pro posals based on those findings can only tend to prolong and intensify the trouble. We deplore the fact that the Government has failed to deal with our claims in a [lactic il and sympathetic manner. We Lave in confidence in and absolutely refuse to recognise the commission row" proposed by Mr. Massey, which is limited in scope. Its findings are without guarantee, and we, firmly believe it is merely a further attempt to side-track the. whole busi i ess. This meeting considers that the Ministers reply is tantamount to a termination of amicable negotiations, and requests the executive to immediately ob tain legal opinion as to the application of the Labour Disputes Investigation Act, 1913, with a view of having the present dispute heard before a tribunal appointed under that Act."