“MISERABLE PITTANCE”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27028, 12 March 1949, Page 8

“MISERABLE PITTANCE”

CRITICISM OF TRIBUNAL VIEWS OF HILLSIDE EMPLOYEES Strong disapproval of the decision of the Railways Industrial Tribunal was expressed at a special meeting of the Hillside branch of '.the New Zealand Railway Tradesmen’s Association yesterday. In a statement issued to the Daily Times the chairman, Mr V. G. Robertson, and the secretary, Mr N. W. Tasker, said that the meeting discussed the recent wage increase granted by the tribunal, and after a full and very clear summary of the situation as it affected railway tradesmen and apprentices had been heard, the following resolution was carried unanimously:— “That this branch of the New Zealand Railway Tradesmen’s Association registers its strong disapproval and disgust of the miserable pittance granted to tradesmen and apprentices by the Railways Industrial Tribunal. This decision, which is a contradiction of the recommendations of the Margins and Anomalies Committee, forces us to the conclusion that the decision was not based on the irrefutable evidence placed before the tribunal, but on short - sighted political expediency which continues to disregard the wlue, skill and responsibility of our members. We are further resolved to give continued support of our National Executive, and demand that it immediately explore every avenue to obtain justice for our members.” It was clearly demonstrated by -the meeting, the statement adds, that the members of the organisation “ were very dissatisfied with the tribunal’s apparent inability to adjust properly tradesmen’s wages.”