STRIKE OF RAILWAY LOCO MEN.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14042, 27 April 1920, Page 3

STRIKE OF RAILWAY LOCO MEN.

(Per "Press Association.) WELLINGTON, April 27. The New Zealand Times this morning says that persistent rumors are on foot of ''a railway strike. The officials of the unions would give no information, but early- this morning it Was stated that the loco men -would leave ■ work at midnight to-night. It is announced - that the locomotive men of the North Island railways will cease work at midnight to-night. A statement of the Executive Council of the 'Locomotive Enginedrivers', Firemen, and Cleaners' Association states that the locomotive men havedecided to cease work at midnight on the 27th, beca.use they are in receipt of wages which have the lowest purchasing power of any men employed in simi-/ lar work in the English-speak'ing world. Every means have been exhausted by .the Executive Council to bring about an amicable settlement, ' and these have been persistently represented to the Manager and Minister of Railways and Parliament during the last ten years. The men.were most militant twelve months ago, and tho Executive Council held tho position until this year, when the decision of the Board went- out to the men. This was taken,very sorely by the men. The Executive still held the men pending further representations to the Minister. When the last letter was received by the Executive from the Minister the Executive Council sent the whole matter to the branches to call urgent meet, ings on Sundayj April 25th. The Executive Council intimated in correspondence that it had done all it could, and had exhausted all means in its power. It was also intimated to the men that the Department refused delegates leave to come to Wellington to consider the position on the 21st. If this had been agreed to at all costs the Executive felt sure that the position would have been still safe'. However, ttie urgent meetings held throughout. New Zealand were- the largest and most extraordinary in the history of the railways. The unanimous instruction of the branches was that the Executive! Council instruct all branches to cease work immediately. The Council had placed themselves unreservedly in the hands of the branches to abide ■by their decisions. There had been no predetermined action in striking at this ; particular juncture, and such a thing ' had never occurred to the Executive. The refusal of leave, coupled with the letter sent in reply to the. last representation of the Executive to the Minister, has'guideel the men into- their present action. _The Executive Council asked the Minister to read the evidence of the Board ; and give its reply by the 21st, if possible. _ It must be explained here that this Union put up no case for ah increase due to the ctst of living, bitt solely from the point of view that the locomotive men in New Zealand were not .being paid a wage equal to the world's standard for locomotive men throughout the* Englishspeaking world. The Minister's reply was by letter, and referred to the setting up of another Board to #> into the cost of living. The locomotive men's case was hereby ignored. The Minister left Wellington the same day as the' Executive Council received his letter. The Minister knew that the position was serious, and had been so advised repeatedly for the last twelve months, ever since he was advised of a unanimous vote of loco men to be taken in May, 1919. It is authoritatively announced here that the members of the Engine-driv-ers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association will cease work this morning, pending a settlement of the dispute. Although the strike will he declared at midnight, trains will not stop at that time, irrespective of where they might be. All starting before midnight will run to their destination. Passengers embarking after that time do so at their own risk. The Main Trunk train leaving Auckland will run as usual to Wellington, and similarly the express from Wellington to Auckland will complete the journey. The men declare that the wages are inadequate, and the conditions of labor, especially long hours, cannot continue much longer. What attitude the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants will take> up is not known. V Meetings are being held throughout the Dominion at midday. The first division is not likely to be affected. A" prominent member informed a Standard reporter that there is a considerable amount of sympathy for the men among the staff of the other division, adding significantly-. "And so there is among the wharf lumpers and police." The decision of the meeting at midday must be endorsed by headquarters. Local members of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants state emphatically that they favor coming out. The Assistant General Manager of ] Railways, when informed of the noti- ■ fieation of the men, said it was tile first : intimation he had received of an inten- i tiori to strike. The men had given no ; warning, and last night neither the ; Prime Minister nor the General Manager of- Railways had received any noti- : fieation. ■■■-.]