GRATEFUL RAILWAYMEN.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13373, 6 May 1914, Page 7

GRATEFUL RAILWAYMEN.

(Special to Herald.)

DUNEDIN, this day. | The interview which the representatives of the executive of the Railway Officers' Institute at Dunedin held with the Minister yesterday morning was brief, but very cordial. They attended for the purpose of expressing their indebtedness for the new Act and'regulations which Mr Herries liad put through Parliament last session. The Minister, m reply, expressed his gratification with the expressions of opinion tliat had fallen from the executive's spokesman. What had been done was only m accordance with the .proinaises •* he had made when he took office, lie had seen then that the first division was suffering from certain grievances. Their petition had been heard at an early date, and it had seemed to him then that a good cafse !had been made out. At that time it had teemed impossible to him 'to meet their wishes during the current session, because- certain promises had been, made by his predecessors with regard to the second division. He had promised them, however, that their demands— aoid just demandswould bo considered, and fairly'considered, during 1 the next session, and ho wis grateful to learn that they appreciated the manner m which ho had carried out his promises. Ho was oxtrcmely pleased to hear — and he was sure tike general manager would bo pleased — that there was a better tone among tho men. That was what they desired. They desired to have an entirely cordial agreement between those who wore employd by the Railway ]>opartment and the head office of the Department. What they wanted to do was to remove any "legitimate grievances, and they wero quit© certain that the Institute .' would not bring before them any grievances that were not really' legitimate, and they would n6t countenance tuiy frivolous grievances that might be brought forward. They were Satisfied that anything brought forward by the Institute womld bo on good grounds, and if they could be removed then they would be remedied by the head quarters' staff. "1 want to say." added the Minister, "that the desire of the head office is to work-in entire amity with the different representatives, of the railway employees, the Institute, the amalgamated society, and the locomotive engineers as well. If those cordial relations can be maintained — and T think they will Vm main-'ttuinod---betwean tihe lu>nd office and the railway employees, then I think it m better for the travelling public. We will then be able to servo our customers m a bolter way than hitherto. I want air-un t<> thank you for the kindly spirit that prompted you to come and tender your thanks to the head office for the way m which yon have been treated during the last session."