SERIOUS DISSATISFACTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19847, 16 January 1920, Page 3

SERIOUS DISSATISFACTION.

RAILWAYS EM AMD WAGES

BOARD,

[Pun Press Association.]

V.'KUIXGTOX, January 1.3. .'!r Justice Stringer. president of tin' 1 Railway A\ apc-s Roavd, lias decided thatiho inquiry into wayes and conditions is in tlic nature. of a departmental invesn’eation and that ii should not ho open to iho Press or public. This derision is likely to eau-e serious dissatisfaction ainono railwaymen, who requested that iho inquij'y should ho puh!ic. on the ground that iho public, who own the railways and would have to pay any extra cost of concessions to the employees, hare a, nV’tit to know all the; reasons for such charpos if increased larc; or ii'eiaius are necessary, ill;-; jaunt was raised in Parliament la-* m—-ion, when .Mr .Mas.-cy. as Minister of .Railways. stated that if the railwayman desired an open inquiry it v.ou'hl h'y 1011, to the hoard, and ho had no objection to publicity. It also transpires that akhouyh the (lovernniont pronitsod eacli section ol raila ayuieu a repre-enialivn on the ■Jrtirti . un;H! ro*'*n'M»n t;i I ! ws who avoiv appointed are not reeopni-cd as menihers of 'the hoard. hut are styled ad-\i.-or\ assessors and have no voire in lirawitip no its lindiiufs, tiiis heiim cnlirely in the hands ‘of .Mr .Justice iMrinv'er. Railwayman consider it a hreacli of it ii. and interest iuy developnieufs. are likely to occur when the inquiry resumes on .Monday. It is understood that the maicainated Society o'; Railway Servants ha>: submitted, in resjionse lo the hoard'- request, a statement ni claim, iueltuliiiir increased wayes above those granted as war honnses and made permanent, in the ivof the Railway C], tii'ation Act, and there is also an intercsiinp; demand that employees should have a vomp in railway mana'mnioui and control.