FINANCE THE DIFFICULTY

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1930, Page 8

FINANCE THE DIFFICULTY

DISMISSALS FROM RAILWAY SUFFICIENT WORK AVAILABLE. NEGOTIATIONS WITH MINISTER, By Tel*srxi>K —Pre** Amocli licit. Wellington, Last Night. Shortage of finance rather than lack, of work is the official reason for tho railway staff dismissals, according to a statement issued to-day by the Railway Tradesmen’s Association. The president of the association, Mr. E. J. Mulligan, stated that following on the drastic reductions in the workshops staff and representations by a deputation, to the Minister of Railways the executive council of the association met in Wellington. The council had since been continuously in session, and the consultative committee of representatives of the four railway societies again met the Hon. W. A. Veitch to-day. “It was admitted by the Minister,” said Mr. Mulligan later, “that there was sufficient work available in the workshops to retain those men under notice of dismissal, the trouble being not a shortage of work, but a lack of capital.”

As requested by the consultation coin« mittee, the Minister of Railways conferred with the Prime Minister and his colleagues with a view to obtaining a larger grant for the department. Mr. Veitch stated to-day that . was impossible to arrange this, and the men under notice would have to go. He intimated, however, that he would give further consideration to any individual cases of hardship, particularly to cases of longservice casual workers, with a view to their retention. /

Mr. Mulligan said a larger, deputation was being arranged for a meeting with Mr. Forbes as Minister of Finance. Tho object was to stress the necessity for providing the finance required to retain all the men under notice of dismissal since, according to the Minister of Railways, they could be more economically and productively employed than if they were on Public Works relief jobs.