THE FORTY-EIGHT HOUR WEEK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19218, 8 July 1924, Page 8

THE FORTY-EIGHT HOUR WEEK

EAILWATMETrS ALLEGATIONS. STRONG PROTEST BY MINISTER. (Peb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 7. A resolution carried bv a unanimous vote at a recent meeting W the Wellington Labour Representation Committee “strongly condemned the Mmister of Railways for the vindictive action taken by him against Members of the A.S.R.S. on their resumption of work after tho strike, and for his enforcement of tho 43-hour week before tho tribunal had any opportunity or adjudicating on tho dispute.’’ “Wo sincerely hope, the committee staged in forwarding tho resolution to the Minister, “you will not have power to act similarly after the next election.’’ The Minister (the Hon. J. G. Coates) has forwarded a reply to the secretary of the committee (Mr' J. Thorn) protesting that the allegation of vindictiveness contained in the resolution is grossly unfair and cannot be substantiated in any way by the actual facts of tho case. “Further, he says, to state that tho 48-hour week was forced on tho men be (ore the tribunal had had an opportunity of adjudicating on the dispute indicates an utter lack_ of appreciation on tho part of tho committee of the attitude adopted by the Government, and the steps taken to bring about a settlement of tho dispute before the strike took place. Tho committee is apparently unaware ot, or conveniently ignores, what actually too., place. A definite arrangement was entered into between the Executive Council of the Society and myself that I should meet them on March 14 and go through the whole ol the matters in dispute. The conference took place, but the executive insisted upon a decision being first given on the wages question without tho case being heard m respect to tlie other 71 requests. Ihis ■ dould not agree to and consequently the executive jettisoned tho arrangement and asked that the claims be referred to a board. This was agreed to and a board o tho exact lines asked for by the society was set up and commenced its sittings on March 24. The executive, however, adopted the same tactics as it did at the conference with myself, and (he boards operations were rendered abortive by the society s representatives withdrawing as the boaro would. not agree to alienate the wages question from tho other claims, j his action precluded consideration of many other important matters, such as the extension o tho weekly hours to 48, and indicates quite dearly not only that tho statement of your committee that 1 enforced the resumption of the 48-hour week before giving the tribunal an opportunity of considering it u totally incorrect, but that the inability oj the tribunal to consider the question was entirely duo to the action of the society s representatives in terminating tho activities pi tbe board at that stage. Every possible effort was made by me to facilitate further Negotiations to obviate trouble, and another tribunal was actually under offer to the society to hear its claims when it decided t* call, a strike. By striking the society undoubtedly scrapped its agreement with ilu Government and thereby forfeited the whole of the concessions and privileges which hat. been enjoyed by its members. Although the Government was in a position to withdraw those concessions, with the exception ot the joinstatemoßt of the 48-hour week for which the men are receiving 48 boars pay, and the abolition of the eight-hour day, the men tyo at present working under tho conditions of the agreement in force when tho strike was declared. With regard to tho resumption of, the 48-hour week, I may say that instructions were given on May 14 pro viding for rostering on extended hours, whereas it was not until Monday, June 2, that tho society intimated its acceptance of the board- which is at present dealing with its claims. _ “From the foregoing,” concludes Mr Goatcs “it is quite clear that tho society has been afforded every passible opportunity of having its claims thoroughly examined and considered. Its representations have boon heard bv the Government with toleration and patience, but tho society, after failing to take full advantage of the facilities provided, took recourse to iniccnstit-u----tional means of forcing its claim on the Government regardless of tho fact that it had failed to establish its case before the class of tribunal it had _ been agitating for for some considerable time- With regard to tho final paragraph of ycur letter, if it is intended to support tho unconstitutional action taken by the Amalgamated Society ot Railway Servants on Easter Monday, when every facility was placed at its disposal for it a claims to bo dealt with m a Constitutional manner. I can only conclude that the subsequent step taken by the society in withdrawing its affiliation with an outside organisation will be distinctly to the advantage of the railwaymen concerned.