LABOUR.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16726, 8 January 1920, Page 7

LABOUR.

-4 BRITISH RAILWAYMEN. (By Cable—Pi*m A#»wi*tlon —Copyri'At) (Australian xr.d X.Z. Cab!- Aasociatioa.) (Renter's Tolefiaffi*- 1 LONDON, January 5. The peace of tho railway world do ponds on the happenings of the nexl few days. The Trade Union leaders nn divided as regards the outcome of th< task of Mr J. H. Thomas and his asso cir.tes to persuade the delegates to ac coot the Government's offer. They wi ex>?rt tho utmost pressure to secure i favourable verdict, and, as a last resort, will try to get a postponement o the final decision. The delegates will be given every op portunitv to discuss the details. Ino conference may last for three dajs \nvhow the greatest tussle between the extremists and the moderates n anticipated. In the event of anothci cri<K. tho executive inav resort to ballot. Public opinion is freely express etl that the men will bo unwise to reiect the ofler. Mo anwhile, the extremists stand point is that they won tho last strike and they arc of opinion that they could win another. Opposition to the offci is based on a general desire to pros; the original demand, namely, that _tlu 33 s bonus should I>o added to the high, est rate of pay of each grade, and thr total made the rermanent standard rate, on the ground that this has nlreadj Jieen conceded to the drivers nnd the firemen. MANY BRANCHES REJECT OFFER. (Atntrmliac and N.Z. Cable Agrocr*tion.> LONDON, January 5. Twenty-three brandies of the railwaymen up to the present havo rejected the new terms. Only two have aireptw! them. (Received January 7th, 7.23 p..in) LONDON, January 0. At thirty large ccntrcs tho railwaymen havo rejected the Government's terms. Only two centres havo thus fai accepted them. Much importance attaches to to-mor-row's meeting of railway delegates, whe will decido the matter. MARINE ENGINEERS' STRIKE. INTER-STATE TRAFFIC PARALYSED. SYDNEY, January 7. As a result of tho mnrino engineers' strike, all inter-Stato shipping traffic is at a standstill. There aro 5000 unemployed nnd 80,000 tons of shipping is lying idle. Tho Sydney waterside workers havo asked the Federal Government for n sustenance allowance while the strike continues. A CONFERENCE SOUGHT. (Received January 7th, 10.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, January 7. The latest development in tho marino ongineers' trouble is that tho Executive of tho Marine Engineers' Institute havo asked tho shipping companies to confer with them with a view to reaching on early settlement. Tho Shipping Controller has agreed, providing that tho conference is held in Melbourne. SHIPS' STEWARDS' DEMANDS. MELBOURNE, January 7. Tho local branch of tho marine stewards' and pantrymen's Union havo decided to support tho decision of tho Sydney branch. [A message from Sydney on Monday said:—Tho latest development in the shipping trouble is an ultimatum issued by the Stewards' and Pantrymen's Association demanding increases in tiuv ranging from 22 to 27} per cent., ivith overtime pay for Sundays and holidays; an eight-hour day whilo at sea and in intermediate ports, and a six hours' day while in terminal ports; a month's holiday per year for chief stewards, nnd a fortnight for all other ranks on full pay.]