RAILWAY EMPLOYES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 9107, 2 October 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

RAILWAY EMPLOYES.

THE ACTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS. DISMISSAL OF FOUR MEN. CiiMSTCHUfiCH, September 10. Tbis morning, in consequence of instructions received from the Railway Commissioners. Messrs Elvines, Owen, Winter and Newton, who are prominent members of the Railway Servants' Assooia* tion, were called uson to attend before Messrs Gaw (Traffic Manager), Burnett (Resident Engineer), and Koniyrie' (Loooniotive Engineer), in connection with the action taken by them at a meeting of the Association held in Chriatchu.'cb. on September 3rd in proposing and seconding resolutions and making speeches iuoiting other employes to disobey the orders of the Commissioners. The proceedings were reported in the papers of the 4th September. On the men attending at the Traffic Manager's office, Mr Gaw said he would first read the telegram which had been sent by the Commissioners. It was as follows : " The Commissioners direct that Messrs Winter, Owen, Elvines and Newton are to be summoned to attend before yourself and Messrs Burnett and Ronayne for the following action, viz. : —Tho second resolution proposed by Mr Winter at a public meeting, as reported in the Press newspaper of the 4th instant, in reference to the approval of the strike of the employes of Westport and Lyttelton, is to be read over to them. They are to be informed as follows : "That it appears to the Commissioners that they have been urging other employed to disobey the Commissioners' commands, and to refuse the duties required of them, provided by the rules and regulations under which they are engaged. "That many employes have been incited to acts of disobedience, through whioh they have lost their places. "That while the Commissioners do not wish to.interf3re with the Union oi with the free disoussion of grievances, they cannot permit any employee to be parties to countermanding their orders, as to advising other employe's to disobey their commands. "That they must undertake to unreservedly obey the rules and regulations as required, and to abstain from counselling disobedienoe to orders, or the neglect by any employe to perform the duties required by him in the public service." "That if they are not able to sincerely and conscientiously undertake this they should resign their places, failing which they should receive notice of discharge," He then read the resolutions proposed by Mr Winter at the meeting referred to, expressive of sympathy with the strikers at Westport and at Lyttelton, which were as follow :

“ (1) That the Executive and the railway men in general regret very much the action taken by the Commissioners of literal’y farcing the men into taking steps at the present juncture which may probably end in a general strike by taking platelayers and others from their ordinary work and coercing them into doing the work of those wharf labourers who have at present withdrawn their labour, thereby constituting them blacklegs and demoralising the Society.” (2) That this meeting express its unqualified approval and admiration of the manner in which the men now oat on strike both here and at Westport have responded to the call of the Executive, and pledges itself to come ont to a man if called open, either to assist in terminating the present struggle or to force the reinstatement of tho men now ont.

Mr Gaw then read the speeches of Messrs Newton, Elvines, and Winter at the same meeting, which appeared in the Press on the 4th September. Mr Elvines said that it appeared to him that because they spoke at a meeting of the railway servants on the position, they were to be dismissed.

Mr Gaw said that that was not so. The reason was that they had incited men to disobey the orders of the Commissioners ‘and to refuse the duties reqrirad of them under the regulations. He now asked them which of the courses mentioned in the telegram they were prepared to take. Mr Elvines wanted to have the matters referred to by Mr Gaw in writing. Mr Gaw said he could not do this. He would read the telegram over to them as many times as they liked, so that they should understand it, ... Mr Elvines continued to urge the right of the men to a circular on the matter. Mr Owen asked for time to consider their position. Mr Elvines pointed out that they had been summoned there at a moment s notice without knowing what they wore wanted for. Mr Gaw then put a plain question to them. He said all that was wanted was a plain answer. Mr Owen said it seemed to him that it meant that if they wished to stick to the service they must give np being Union men. Mr Gaw said be could not discuss that question with them. Mr Owen could not understand what the Commissioners wanted them to do. Mr lionayne said, to undertake not to interfere with tbs men in future. Mr Gaw bad sent the men to work and they bad been taken ont by their orders as the Executive of the Society. Mr Gaw said they would give the men

ten minuteß to oonsider the question, and they oould go away into another room and disoaßs the matter amoDgst themselves. Lot them distinctly understand what they had to consider. The Commissioners asked them to say whether they would sign an undertaking to abstain from Inciting any of their fellow-employes to rebellion against the orders of the Commissioners and to express their regret for having done eo, or in the event of refusing they would be called on to resign, or be dismissed. The men then retired, and at the end of the period returned. lo answer to Mr Oaw they declined to Bign the undertaking, which was in the following words : - " I hereby undertake for the future to abstain unreservedly and unconditionally from inciting any of my fellow employes to disobey any orders of the Railway Commissioners, or to refuse the duties required of them provided by the rules and regulations under which they were engaged, and I deslro further to express rr.y regret for having done so in the past. Christohurch, Septenibor 10th, 1590." Some objeotion was taken by the men to the wording of the undertaking, especially the last olause of the document, expressing regret for bavin? incited their fellow workmen in the past. This, they said, was not what they Bhould bo called upon to Bigo, as they had not done bo, and this oonveyed the impression that they had and were sorry for it. Mr Gaw said he would be quite willing to take that olauso out, which was done. The men were then asked severally whether they would Bign the undertaking, but they declined to do eo whilst the men oalled out the other day in Lyttelton wero still oat. Mr Winter mentioned that at a meeting here the other night it had been decided to send a telegram on the matter to the Commissioners, asking for a conference on the question of these men. All then deolined to sign the declaration under these circumstances. Mr Gaw then asked them whether would resign from the Bcrviee. To this they all, except Mr Owen, returned an immediato and decided negative. Mr Owen asked for time to consider the position. Mr Gaw declined to give any further time. They had refused to promise not to incite their fellow employe's ; and now they declined to resign, there was nothing to be done but to dismiss the whole four at onoo. Before doing so, however, he would onoo more ask them whether they would sign the undertaking ha had read or resign. Tho men all deolined to do cither. Mr Gaw said that in that care they would bo dismissed. A fortnight's pay would be given them in lieu of notice, and they would have to report what had taken place to thoir respecting foremen. The proceedings then terminated. There does not appear to be any likelihood of a general strike, as the men who had been dismissed deprecate such a step being taken on their behalf. It is intended to send a deputation to Wellington to interview the Commissioners to see whether some moans cannot he adopted to bring the present stata of things to an en 3.