MR BALLANCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6695, 7 November 1889, Page 3

MR BALLANCE.

HIS NAPIER SPEECH! EAILWAT EMPLOYEES. [fbom our own cobbespondent.} WANGANUI, Nov. 6. As a great many comments Lave been made oh Mr Ballanoe's speech at Napier, respecting Eailway employees' wages, it may be interesting to know exactly what he did say. The Press Association's report was erroneous. Mr Ballance said : Before concluding his remarks ho would refer to a question that arose during the session in reference to the intention of the Railway Commissioners to reduce the wage? of the railway employees. He had been assured on the best authqrity that they had made up their minds to reduce the rote of wages after the session, and it was in consequence of this report that he raided tho question in the House, whore ho pointed out that if the reduction were made the question might be considered a political one. He believed great pressure had been brought to bear on the Government to reduce the rate, in order to force down the rate of wages generally j but they dare not incur the odium, and one of their motives for passing the Railway Act and the appointment of the Commissioners was to allow a non-political body td do what the Government would not have the courage to carry into effect. The present rate of wages wag only 63 Gd per day, wages which might be too high for Chinamen probably, or " hitters " pub of employment ; bub he did not think they were too high for q. man who had himself, and his wife and family to. beep. He thought they could do with an increase rather than a reduction. The Commissioners, though entrenched behiud an Aofc, were not above Parliamentary criticism and control. The railway estimates had to be voted every year by the House, and it wou^d then be the duty of members to express their opinions freely, and if necessary to proceed to action if circumstances demanded it. It stood to reason that it Parliament yote4 woney for railway expenditure, it had the right to examine into the administration of the railways. The Eailway Employees' Insurance Bill waa introduced in the last hours of the session, and provided a -system of insurance for employees. A'parfc from other, objeofcione, it appeared that deductions from the wages were ex'ocssiye, or the payments to be made out of the fund insufficient. The measure would act harshly, and, place men pecuniarily muck at the mercy of those above them, ib did not appear to be necessary, as there were Friendly Sooieties and different Insurance Companies whioh men wfiro free to enter, and in which they were, at present largely insured.- He did not thing the measure ought to be reintroduced, but the employees should be left free to provide for ■themselves. [PfiJi PRESB ASSOCIATION.! yiTBLLIWQTON, Nov. 6. Mr Ballance complains of inaccuracies in the report forwarded through the Colony of his Napier meeting, add aßks that the following corrections should be made:— fcespeoting the intended reduction of wages of railway met, the. report says, " It had been divulged to him privately [that'Minißters had appointed the Eailway Commissioner^ to do what they dare not do ! themselves, reduce the riite of wages all 1 civet tjie Colony in the 1 ikfcerasi of the landed- -dung." Wtfafc Sfr &allifoce said on the point was that fie Uad received •private, mfoimation-wMoJi yt'& absolutely reliable; tha| the po^nuesionera had iutenued to reduce tna irate of wages of the employees after t|e close' df the eeßsipn. a£d tiiat it waa fo,conßeatosnoa of this information he (Mr ihtfl^&ce) Drought the . subject before tjie House. The .private information did not refer to Jlittlfiterfli, iSut flolely to the expressed s&tentwp fit f»e Commiilß^ert . He also points <yalj thfkt toe rote waa not' merely Sto rf thjitt^frto Mr gallantfe, but "That ?thin^i|etjng,fef»raß.a very heart/ veto b£ thanm to Mr Ballance, md expresses tter