RAILWAY WORKERS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXXII, Issue 26, 26 March 1924, Page 3

RAILWAY WORKERS

WAGES A fib CONDITIONS.

ALLEGGJ BROKEN AGREEMENT

Per Press Assentation

Wellington, March 25.

The Wages Board inquiry, regarding railwaymen’s pay and conditions, resumed to-day.

Mr Connolly, for the A.S.R.S., alluded to Mr Sterling’s argument in regard to the cost of living. Mr Sterling had referred to an agreement reached in 1920 that reduced hours should be regarded as in full settlement of any' claim's made by the A.S.R.S. for any increase in wages in respect, iq the'a’dvance in the cost of living. He maintained that the people behind the ’ department (an allusion to Parliament) had violated the vital clauses of that agreement, treating 1 it as a scrap of paper. They had broken the agreement bv reducing wages a year later by Is 8d a day. Replying to the chairman (Mr H. D; Acland), Mr Connolly agreed that (jiffs was done by Act of Parliament, arid applied generally. He contended that, nevertheless, it was a breach of the agreement of" 1920. He went oil to show how the cost of living, had increased since 1914. The society appreciated what was being done by tit© department to provide hours for thle men, but, at the present rate of progress, it would take forty-five years to provide for the 150,000 men in the service. By that time the number would be doubled. Mr Mack said they were principally, concerned with the basic wag|e, and whether it was a fair living wage.

Mr Connolly said tile society’s claims were founded upon the basic rate alone, and he objected strongly to family conditions and penalty rates, which were, paid for special services being taken into consideration. The minimum rate should be the basis; ”

Turning to the 48-hour week, Mr C6nnoTly quoted ngures to show that out of 41 trades, callings, and industries, 17 worked 44 hours a week or under, and only 14 worked 48'or over. In, 1914, out of 41 trades or callings, only 7 were working 44 hours a week.