SETTLEMENT IN SIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1213, 23 August 1911, Page 5

SETTLEMENT IN SIGHT.

AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. LESS FRICTION THAN EXPECTED.. (Rec. August 22, 10.55 p.m.) London, August 22. Announcement has been made at. the Board of Trade that the difficulties in connection' with Saturday's agreement, including the Midland men's trouble, are nearing a settlement. . The : North-Kaslern Railway Company's directors have decided to permit the resumption of work on tho basis of Saturday's settlement. This announcement'was generally welcomed at Leeds, but at York the men are hostile, the feeling' being that' the findings of the forthcoming . Commission will enablo tho company to abandon the existing 6ystem of conciliation, which the men consider to be tho most effeclivo in Britain, . Decision Deferred. The railwaymcn at Hutt, Middlesborough, Newcastle, and Darlington have deferred their decision. Meanwhile they have redoubled their pickets. Tho railwayman at Hull demand an eight-hours day, with a two shillings increase for the'low grade men. , . Block at Newcastle. Traffic at Newcastle is almost at a deadlock. Many citizens, including solicitor's, heads of firms, and clerks, acted as porters at' tho Central Station, the porter's cap being the only semblance of a uniform. • Mr. Bellamy states that the railwaymen's unions hava received the companies' guarantees respecting certain*"cases under discussion. Many points of, difference have arisen, but the settlement is proceeding with considerably less friction than was expected. ■

All concerned are hopeful of an early and complcto agreement. Five hundred Midland men at the Kentish Tora ' goods station havo struck. Mr. Asquith Meots Employers. Tho Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, mot representatives of the Tramway Owners' Association and' the United Carters' Association at Manchester, hut tho conference was fruitless. * A strike of. four thousand carters ' at Sheffield has b>on s«ttkd on the basis of a substantial advance, Rioters Prosecuted. Two charges arising from Saturday's rioting at Chesterfield station have been withdrawn. Five others were dismissed, but fifteen persons wero committed for trial. No railwaymen are involved.