THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15301, 15 November 1911, Page 4

THE MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

Bii:,—Considerable attention has been given by tho preys of the Dominion lately to tliu alUJiint (if dissn[Ufurtion that prevails at present t lie whole of tlin railway service. Willi your permission 1 should like to onlitfiiton Iho eleetoi« of Duncdin West ns to what tins Ix'on happening since last the Hon. J. A. Millar, Minuter of Railways, stood before thcni iti a cnmlidato fur Parliament. Sineo Mr Millar became. Minister of lUilways, such privileges n« tliu railwayman enjoyed have been fast disappearing, mid the working- conditions have heconio such thai resignations from the service have been wholesale. Both first and fecond divisions of thn service hovo Etiong union societies, and representatives are elected t6 plueo thn men's grievances periodically before the Minister at Wellington. Strong efforts have been made to obtain rectification of thoir grievances, but all of no avail. _ The Minister even went so far as to inform tho Kxocutiw Council of the A.S.It.S. (ro presenting the second <Pivision) that they would havo to meet every 12 months instead of (-very three, but they stood firm and eventually tho Prime Minister camo to tho roseuc, and they still moot nverv three months. Recognising (Iwt nothing could bo obtained from'tlio Minister/ from whom sometimes tliev couhl not even got a hearing, tho A.B.R.S decided to petition Parliament, and that etep'wM taken last year, but the petition Was iibt dealt with: Nothing daunted, tho society presented a larger petition last session, and diirinit tho session tho executivo oouncil met, in Wellington, fonm 40 members of Parliament and received from thom a very attentive and sympathetic hearing > Tho petition, however, was not <lealt with by t-lio Railways Committee, but the appointment of a board 10 deal with the matter was re-' commended by tho commitleo, ami this recommendation was favourably commented on by tho Minister. ' • ■ _ ; Tho first division of tho servico, disgusted also at tjio autocratio a attitude of tho Minister, presented a petition to thn Hons?, and this wis;reported on by the committco Tho proof of tho reasonable dnmands of tho men is .to .bo {ound in this report. The first division has emerged from its fight with flying colouru, and it now remains to bo seen in wlyit manner tho Minister will give offect to tho report of tlu committee, Novor Ixiforo ijn tho history of tho railway servico has it boon necessary for tho men to take such steps as the presentation of thoso petitions to Parliament, They arc askir.j not so tnuch for concessions, but for what has already 'been p'ovicfed for them, .but withhold by tho Department. The working condition? of tho railway service to-day ore very tad indeed, oiid thinss rould bo considerably betterod if tho Minister so desired, Increases of pay have been civon this fiossion to so mo sections of tho fiocond Division, but these increases will not removo their many grievances. Olio shilling per dav has been granted to tho most highly paid men (thoenginemcn) awl 2Jd por dny to thn low-paid men (married mon only), bringing the daily wago of tho latter up '.i 8s 6d. after a distinct promise had benn given -n th? Budget, that all day wages men would receive 9s p?r day. Tho Olago Branch of tho A.S.H.S. rightly puts it when' it states that an increase of 2jd per day "is a disgrace and an insult to tho Doinion." Very significant was the change of attitixlo of tho Minister towards Iho Executive Council of the A.S.R.S. Nt its last interview with him. Surprise was expressed by him that soino of his promised reforms had not been carried into offset. It has taken him a long whilo to find this' out. It is now said of him tlmt ho is prepared to tako courage in both hands and reorganise his department. Why was this not dono long &f[o instead of bcin? left until the ovo of a general election? Is it only now that ho rccognises what, the railwayincn liavo been very patiently putting up with? 110 must certainly, know that the management has lost tho resjwet and oonfidenco of tho men. Will Mr Millar tell tho electors on Wednesday night jvluit ho intsnde doing with regard to the reorganisation of his department, »>nd what will bo hi 3 futur© attitude to thu 12,000 men under his control! Ho need not try to smooth matters any. Tho present stato of aftiiri in the railway service calls for very fccrious attention on his part, if he is ORiiin returned to llirliament, and a full explanation should bo forthcoming from him if ho desires "tho electors' confidence at tho ballot box, I letavo it. however, to them to judgo what responsibility falls on his shouldeis lot tin< present stuto of affairs, and in conclusion ask thorn to contrast tho treatment of tho railwayman as compared • with that of a rclativo of Mr Millar's, who was promoted over tho lKods of m?n with twice his n>rvice, and his salary increased by £45 por unnum.—l am, eto., Kx-Raiiwatuan.