OBJECTION TO REPORT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20690, 9 October 1930, Page 15

OBJECTION TO REPORT.

RAILWAY WORKMEN PROTEST.

REMARKS OF COMMISSION.

"AN UNJUST REFLECTION."

LBT TELEGIUFH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

In (ho belief that some of the findings of (lie Royal Commission which investigated the working railways were an unjust. reflection 011 tho skilled workmen employed in the railway workshops, the New Zealand Railway Tradesmen's Association has issued a statement. The association is holding its biennial conference! in Wellington.

" The conferences views with extreme surprise," says the statement, " the report of (lie Royal Commission relating to the benefit being obtained from the new workshops, .in which it is stated that in some instances Jhcre is an indisposiiion to make llic most effective uso of tho facilities now available, with tho result that the full benefit of efficient service is not being obtained.' "This is a grave reflection on the skilled workmen employed in tho workshops and it is the intention of the conference to request tho Minister of Railways to appoint a board of inquiry to investigate the charges implied. When giving evidence before tho commission last July we submitted substantial evidence to the effect that the present system introduced under (he reorganisation of the workshops had been responsible in several instances for a greatly increased cost of production, as compared with tho cost under tho old system, and for which 110 responsibility can be attached to the staff. For instance, the plant used for the manufacture of waggon wheels was moved at considerable cost, under the reorganisation, from Hillside to tho Ilutt shops. The raw material used in tho manufacture of these wheels is obtained from Burnside, which is in close proximity to the Hillside workshops. Now that these wheels are made at tho Hutt, the South Island requirements have to be transporter! back lo the South, thereby necessitating double sea transport. The result is that these wheels are costing substantially more than formerly.

" The commission's attention was also drawn to tho installation of sonic machinery, at considerable cost, which has never been used, and some of it is never likely to be used. Tho skilled men welcome 1 lio introduction of modern machinery and modern methods, and the suggestions contained in the commission's report are not justified arid not, fair to the staff, who have always been loyal and a credit to tho department." Tho delegates to (he conference arc as follows:—Messrs. E. J. Mulligan, president., Christchurch; W. J. Leitch, vicepresident, Auckland; W. Paul, Dunedin; W. Hamilton, Addinglon; T. E. Oliver, Hult ; K. 0. Thompson, Wanganui; W. ,J. Thomas, lnvercargill; H. A. P. Casey, Westf)ort; J. Maxwell, Wellington; W. Tv. Selwvn, lnvercargill; L. F. Thompson, Wellington.