THE RAILWAY SERVICE

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 43

THE RAILWAY SERVICE

LOCOMOTIVE MEN'S REQUESTS. ATTITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENTWELLINGTON. May 30. The Government has made public its reply to the request of the locomotive men of the railway service made by a deputation from their sooiety which waited on the Acting Prime Minister a few weeks ago. On that occasion the men protested that they o could get no distance with the discussion of their differences" with the management at a conference with the Minister of Railways and the General Manager of Railways, and they appealed to the Government to appoint an outside conciliator, for whioh. position they suggested either Mr Justice Sim or Mr Justice Stringer to preside over a conference of representatives of their society and the department. The conciliator was merely to be the chairman of the conference, charged presumably with the duty of seeing that matters were fairly presented and disoussed. He was not to bo an _ arbitrator. The Acting Prime Minister promised to submit the matter to the Cabinet, _ and the answer of the Cabinet has been given.

The following is the text of the Ministers reply to the president and secretary of the Engine-drivers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association :

"In accordance with my promise, I referred to the Cabinet various matters placed bcfor9 me by the deputation which waited on me on May 13. In reply, I ' have to state that the Cabinet has carefully considered the matter, and I have been authorised to make the following reply : —'The Government understands that the details of the Government scheme have never been thoroughly discussed in a fair and amicable manner owing to the refusal of your association to take part in any round-table conference between the Minister of Railways and the department and yourselves. The Government believes that if such a conference had been held many misunderstandings would have been cleared up, and therefore the Government suggests .to your association that such a conference be held, in which the objections to the scheme may be fairly stated to the Minister and to the General Manager. The Government strongly recommends the association to follow the example of the Amalgamated Society and accept the scheme, and give it a fair trial, with the belief that any injustices that may be found in the administration can be better remedied by round-table conferences than by threats of a strike. With regard to tho request for arbitration on the matter, if that means that your association desires to come under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, I may say that the Government not only would have no objection to that course, but would bring in legislation to give effect to this, provided it was satisfied by ballot or otherwise that the majority of its employees in tho second division . were in favour of such a course. .The Government, however, could not agree < to a minority of the second division being under "the Arbitration Act and the larger portion being outside the Act, nor could the Government agreo to any arbitrators or conciliators being appointed to act except under the provisions of the Arbitration Act.' " CASE FOR THE MEN. STATEMENT BY MR M'ARLET. WELLINGTON, May 50. Mr W. M'Arley (general secretary of the Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association), in the course of a statement replying to Sir Jame 3 Allen's letter, said it appeared to him that the Acting Prime Minister had been misinformed ag to the attitude taken up by tho representatives of the association. He personally offered to state the association's position to the Acting Prime Minister before the Cabinet met. The association had never refused to meet the Minister of Railways and the department in a round -table conference to discuss the proposals. When the Minister submitted his proposals on April 2 they were fully < discussed and explained to the association's, delegates. The men had the fullest information, and fully understood tho proposals. Tho representatives of the association, in their statement to the Acting Prime Minister, stated certain definite reasons why they resented the proposals, which could not be the subject of any misunderstanding on either side. The Executive Council, which has power to act in the matter, will meet as soon as the members can assemble, when an official statement may be made. DIFFERENCES WITH MANAGEMENT. (Fbom Oub Own Cobbespondent.) WELLINGTON, June 1. It is not probable that the locomotive men will accept tho offer of the Government that they shall be given an opportunity of going under the Arbitration Court, but if they should decide to accept it there will be other difficulties. At present the only registered society is the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and the leaders of that body will no doubt object to_ the registration of another second division society of railway servants. The leaders of the A.S.R.S. will also probably oppose all the second division men of the service going under the Arbitration Act. They consider that they can do much better by direct negotiations than they could do through the court.

The Government has not yet replied to the A.S.R.S. regarding the Minister's veto in the Longton case, but whatever the decision may have been in this case there is nob likely to bo any weakening of the Government and tho management of the service as to the need for the veto. The servics is classified, and as the management insists upon tho right to depart from the classification seniority in the making of promotions it may be expected to deny the right of anv appeal board to overrule its decisions. This nas always been the attitude of tho department. The Longton case happened at a most unfortunate time, but it was important, for.no other reason than this, LOCOMOTIVE MEN'S COMPLAINTS. AGREEMENT TO CONFERENCE. WELLINGTON, June 2. The New Zealand Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association proposes to send to-day a letter to the Acting Prime Minister in which it will accept the

Government's offer of a round-table conference to discuss matters in dispute between them and the Minister of Railways, but it wih ask that the Hon. A. M. Myers bo chairman of the in view of his experience of railway administration.

At a largely-attended meeting of the Canterbury branch of the Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association on Sunday (says the Lyttelton -Times) tho following motion was carried :-Hfc4'Thaifeihis large meeting unanimously supports Tfs previous decision regarding the Ministers proposals, and expresses alarm and indignation at the Cabinet refusing a conciliation commissioner, as we have repeatedly met the management in regard to our grievances, and strongly demand that Cabinet appoint a oonciliator, as is enforced on outside labour disputes, and also advocated by the public press."