RAILWAY WORKERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24739, 16 October 1941, Page 11

RAILWAY WORKERS

WAGES BELOW AWARD RATE PETITION TO THE HOUSE (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 15. A report by the Labour Bills Committee on petitions by certain railway workers for an increase in wages to bring them up to the award rates led to a debate of nearly two hours' duration In the House of Representatives to-day. Reporting on behalf of the committee, Mr C. H. Chapman (Govt., Wellington North) said that the committee had been advised that representations on lines similar to those of the petitions had already been made by the executive of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and were at present under consideration by the Government. In these circumstances, the committee had no recommendation to make. Impressed by Evidence

Mr W. J. Poison (Opposition, Stratford) said that 1500 workers were affected. They received 2d an hour or more below the minimum award rate paid to similar workers in outside industries. The committee was impressed with the evidence of the men. The general manager said that if the request were granted it would mean an increase of £300,000 in the annual wage bill, because every other grade would have to be stepped up. The actual cost of meeting the claim of the 15,000 men concerned in the petition would be only about. £30,000. The Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, said that the Government would take notice of the petition, but it was not necessary for the petitioners to come to the House, •as the Government had previously agreed with the A.S.R.S.to go into the question with a view to lifting those on the lower levels as soon as practicable. Mr W A. Bodkin (Opposition, Central Otago) said that the petitioners had given logical and absolutely uncontradicted evidence, and it was the clear duty of the committee to give a verdict accordingly. The test was what industries outside the Government had to pay for a similar class of work. The Prime Minister. Mr Fraser, said that unless a great increase took place in national production or in imports he could not see any great benefit in an allround increase in wages. It would only result in an increase of prices. An Undoubted Injustice

Mr W. S. Goosman (Opposition, Waikato) said there was no doubt that a section of the community was suffering an injustice, and yet a committee with a majority of Labour members found no recommendation to make. The Minister of Railways, Mr Semple, said that accredited representatives of the A.S.R.S. had waited on him and the Minister of Finance, and it had been agreed that there was a case to answer. In the meantime, however, a section of the men, ignoring the overtures of the national organisation and against the wishes of that organisation had brought a petition to the House. The report was laid on the table.

In an address on "The Lighter Side of Army Life" to the Timaru Rotary Club. Private G. Horwell, who has returned from overseas, said that on one occasion a party of New Zealand Engineers had visited a brewery in Cairo. Although told that there would be plenty of drinks afterwards, the sight of a moving chain of bottles travelling to the capping machine was too great a temptation. "The boys helped themselves," he said, "and when the visit was over the n.c.o. called them into line, but he fell over and' indignantly wanted to know who had pushed him!"