THE RAILWAY SERVICE

Otago Witness, Issue 3384, 22 January 1919, Page 29

THE RAILWAY SERVICE

DISCONTENT AMONG THE MEN

WELLINGTON, January 14

The Executive Council of the locomotive men has issued a communique stating that up to the present it has received no reply to the petitions presented by it to Parliament, and the council strongly hints that unless some announcement is made shortly it will not be able to keep the men in hand, and this may lead to a general dislocation of industries. Letters from other branches indicate that members are in an exceptionally bad mood, and the executive says that the feeling expressed is a revelation to it, and that the sooner the Government realises that it is sitting on a volcano the better it will, be for New Zealand. The council has been asked to refuse to handle race trains, and suggest that _ the Government should say at once what it is going to do.

STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER, WELLINGTON, January 14.' . Replying to a statement by the secretary of the Railway Locomotive Engine Drivers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association in regard to pay, the Minister, of Railways stated to-day that the association had been informed that ho was quite prepared to meet its representatives, and discuss grievances next month, and that he would bo also conferring with representatives of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and the Railway Officers' Institute with a view to reaching an agreement. As to the amendment of a schedule of the Government Railways Act to be introduced next session, permanent wages were covered entirely by the schedule which had to be approved by Parliament. Meanwhile, until the statutory schedule was amended the bonus system would be continued. This provided an additional 3s daily throughout the second division for married men, and 2s per day for single men, with a bonus of 3s per day. A married first-class driver received a total of 16s 6d a day, which was 6d a day higher than the average wage for a eimilar position in Australia. For lower grade men the wages with bonus were considerably higher than the rates for similar men in Australia. The question of working conditions could not he determined till the matter of wages had been settled.

STATEMENT BY THE SECRETARY. WELLINGTON, January 15. The locomotive men refuse to accept the position taken up by the Minister, and the secretary (Mr M'Arley) has issued _ a further statement declaring that no official information has been conveyed to the association as to when the Minister is prepared to meet it in conference and discuss grievances, and that the newspaper announcement to that effect was the first that had reached the association. Some announcement had been made to members of Parliament that the Minister would go into the locomotive men's grievances after Christmas, but nothing has come to the organisation in an official way, so that it could be conveyed to members. "In a-ny ease," the secretary states, "the Executive Council will not discuss the grievances any further with him, and unless he is prepared to say within a short tinie what he is going to do the members will make the next move."

Further discussion at this juncture, states Mr M'Arley, is looked upon by the members of the association as a mere waste of time. In 1911 we discussed these same matters with him, and petitioned Parliament, and got a favourable hearing, but no reforms have taken place. "We have met the Minister on many occasions since, and each time we receive the stock reply, which, if it is not wearisome for the Minister to repeat, is wearisome for the delegates to listen to. "We have gone back to our members always since 1911 with the same tale, and can you wonder at the " kick over the traces" ? The last time wo met the Minister was prior to last session of Parliament, and he asked us to discuss matters with him, apparently with no view of doing anything but to perform the usual incantation. The delegates told him then that they had come to the conclusion that it was merely a waste of time discussing their grievances with him. I can show you letters for the last six years with the same old reply. The statement adds the significant fact that the men have been assured by more militant organisations than the Locomotive Association that if the Government tries to deprive it of its right they will step into the breach. The Executivo # Council is tired of begging almost on their knees, and tho men in turn no longer desire that the Conciliation Council or the Arbitration Court should settle tho dispute. The Minister has had since 1913 to consider the petition sent to him by_ the Railways Committee, and if he requires an extension on that time the members are not prepared to grant it, and will possibly give him as

many hours to fix their troubles as he has been allowed years to consider them.

MINISTER IN REPLY. WELLINGTON, January 16. Tho Hon. Mr Herries (Minister of Railways), in reply to the locomotive men's latest communication, admitted not having written officially to the association, but said that he had made so many statements in tho House and in reply to deputations to the effect that he would meet the societies' representatives next month that he thought they knew tho position. The usual custom in dealing with matters of wages and working conditions in the railway service was to go into the schedule and come to an agreement if possible when the House met. Tho schedule would go before the Railway Committee of the House, and if any persons thought they had not been fairly treated in the proposed schedule they could apply to the comm.itteo and state their case. After the schedule left the committee it would come before the House, and it would bo for tho House to say whether It was to bo adopted or not. Wages were fixed by schedule to the Act, and they could not bo amended without the sanction of Parliament. He was now writing officially to Mr M'Arlcy, association secretary.

MINISTER SUGGESTS A CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, January 17. Railway matters have assumed a smoother aspect. The Minister of Railways ha informed the Locomotive Engineers', Firemen, and Cleaners' Association that he hopes they will meet him about February 12. Ho proposes to draft an amended schedule, which, if approved by Cabinet and Parliament, will operate aa from April 1. The secretary says it is hoped that some indication will bo given by the Minister as to the direction his proposals will take towards removing the men's grievances, especially with regard to the number of hours of work, etc., before the delegates take any action with regard to the secret ballot which is being demanded by various branches. The Minister's statement, however, will do much towards relieving the feelings of most of the militant members. He adds that, owing to the recent attitude taken up by the members, it will now be quite impossible for the Executive Council to accept or refuse any proposals made by the. Minister. They will require to be ratified by the members of his association before accepting or rejecting. The council, while studiously avoiding anything which will dislocate industries in .New Zealand, will urge upon the Government the necessity of improving the lot of the locomotive men.

THE DEPARTMENT'S POSITION. WELLINGTON, January 17. The following letter has been sent by the Hon. Mr Hemes to Mr M'Arley, secretary of the Locomotive Engine-drivers, Firemen, and Cleaners'Association :—"With reference to the correspondence that has passed between your society and myself and the representa-tions-made on behalf of increased pay and improved conditions for members of the locomotive running branch, I have the honour to remind you that, as repeatedly intimated in the House, and personally intimated to yourself and Mr Henderson in several interviews —especially one on the 3rd ult., when you and Mr Henderson formed a deputation in company with members of Parliament,—l will be prepared early next month to meet the executive of the three railway societies, with a view to coming to an ' understanding as to any alterations in the schedules that may be thought necessary, and also to discuss proposals respecting conditions of employment that may be brought forward. Other societies affected have suggested improvements in the pay and condition of members that differ radically from those advanced by your association, and the effect of the whole of the. representations must be considered together before a decision, which will affect all the members of the service, can be arrived at. The requests that have been put forward involve a considerable increase in the expenditure of the department, and this aspect will also require careful consideration before any decision is finally arrived at. After the proposals have been fully discussed and considered, I propose to drafts an amended schedule to the Government Railways Act which, if approved by Cabinet and by Parliament, may be made to operate as from April 1 of this year. I hope to bo in a position to meet your executive and discuss matters so far as your association is concerned about the 12th prox.. immediately after the business of your conference has been disposed of.'

RESOLUTION BY NAPIER BRANCH. NAPIER, January 16. ■ At a meeting of the Napier branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants last night the following resolution was carried:—"That this branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants strongly supports the Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association in its demands for fair treatment at the hands of the National Government, and expresses its appreciation of the firm attitude adopted by the Grand Council of the Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association, as stated in a communique published in the press. We also ask all branches of the A.S.R.S. to support the sister society."

MR M'ARLEY'S THREATS. (From Oub Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, January 17. Threats of a strike have been made by the secretary of the Railway Locomotive Engine-drivers, Firemen, and Cleaners Association quite openly. A reference to the evidence of Mr M'Ai-ley, who is the secretary of the society, when he was applying to Parliament for recognition of the association in 1909, is especially interesting m view of the threats now being made. Mr M'Arley. in his evidence before the Railways Committee, said that a big union of all cmplcrvoes was exactly what the strike "boss" wanted, and that for this purpose all the employees had been got into one big union in America. The strike had followed. Then he said: "I may say that strikes are altogether out of the question, and. on behalf of tho. Engine-drivers, Firemen, and Cleaners* Union, I may sav that no such thing has ever entered our heads I, as secretary of that organisation, will never make use of a strike as a weapon to be used against the Government." Mr M'Arley has- not yet used the weapon, but he has brandished it more than once lately.