STRIKE BALLOT ORDERED.

Western Star, 23 March 1920, Page 2

STRIKE BALLOT ORDERED.

THE RAILWAY DISPUTE. IMPORTANT ACTION BY A.S.R.S'. EXECUTIVE. An extraordinary meeting of the Executive Council of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, representing nearly 9000 second division railwaymeri, has concluded (writes the Wellington correspondent of the Lyttelton Times). The officers of the society decline to make public their future plans, but it is reported that they came to a definite conclusion regarding; the policy to be adopted to secure better terms than are offered in Mr Justice Stringer’s report. Recent resolutions by railwayman's meetings bear witness to the fact that the report is not acceptable to any portion of the employees, and the question faced by the A.S.R.S. executive was; What is the alternative? It has become . known in railway circles that the society’s governing body will straightway take a secret ballot of the membership on two points: First, acceptance of otherwise of the proposed bonus. Secondly, if not in favour of acceptance, do you favour .striking, to secure the demands ? As the result of the ballot on the first question is a foregone conclusion, the answer to the second point will be waited with anxiety. In the event of the decision to abandon the society’s long record of constitutional action, great responsibility rests on the executive, especially in view of superannuation privileges. It is contended by the railwaymen’s leaders that whereas the latest arbitration awards in outside industries give artisans a minimum wage of 17s •Id, the proposed raihvaymen’g average is 15s 6d, It is suggested that the official wages statements are misleading, because the highest grades only are taken into account in calculating the percentage increase. The railwaymen’s dem<fc! is for the present wage, to be to secure the same purchasing power as in prewar times, by providing an increase on the pre-war wage equivalent to the sovereign. Percentage increases are objected, as the men with the highest wages would receive greater' increases than lower-paid men, though the cost of living problems hits all alike. That all efforts to settle the dispute cm conciliatory lines have not been abandoned is shown by tho application from the Amalgamated, Society’s executive to interview the Prime Minister when ho is sufficiently recovered from his operation. It is understood: that tho strike ballot will close on April 17.