A BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2055, 13 July 1893, Page 21

A BREACH OF PRIVILEGE.

A MYSTERIOUS DOCUMENT.

(Feom Ootj, Special Cobhespondent.) .Wellington, July 10.

A proof slip containing the following has. found its way to-night, no one knows how or through what channel, into each member's private box. None of the officials of the House can say how they got there. They 'only, know that abroach of privilege has been committed. The document thus runs : —

The 1 following resolutions have been carried unanimously by the executive of the Amalgamated (Society of Railway Servants of New Zealand :-- Railway Employes' Insurance Bill.— That members of the House of Representatives be requested to advocate a conference of railway men to ducuss the Insurance Bill, and that as soon as possible after their arrival in Wellington they interview the Railway Commissioners and the Minister, for .Public Works upon the question. " Conciliation and, Arbitration Bill.— That the executive strongly urge the passing of the Conciliation and Arbitratidn Bill, and that no bill will be deemed satisfactory unleas railway men are included in its provisions. ',_,.., .. Government Railways Bill.— That the executive urge Parliament to get the Government Railways Bill passed as introduced last session, for the following reasons :— l. That it is contrary to all democratic principles to have thepeople's railways handed over to any, number of private persons for irresponsible management. 2. That the management of the railways by the commissioners in connection with their employes has been highly unsatisfactory, for the following reaaonß :— (l) . That at present the employe has no means of appealing to an independent tribunal against any decision of the'eommissioners ; (2) that the system of patronage which obtains under the present management is worse than if the railways were under .uolLtical control, inasmuch as it is incapable of being cheeked toy the people's representatives ; <3) that the rate of pay received by employes has been considerably lowered, during the commissioners' term of management by the introduction of excessive boy labaue and a system, of replacing men forking on the higher scales of wages by •others engaged upon the lowest scale, and by withholding all rises" in' the scale of pay as far as possible; (4) that promotion generally has not been according to merit or seniority, but has been eubject to the amount of private influence at the command of the individual employe ; (5) that the sole aitn-of the commissioners has been to produce a surplus at the end ,of the year, and that they have accomplished that desire by neglecting necessary work and "by discharging a number of employes at a time when outside employment was almost unobtainable.