OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 9, 6 October 1919, Page 5

OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE

(Ecc. October 5, 5.5 p.m.) London* October 3. An official announcement regarding the conference states thai the Government proposed the following basis upon which negotiations oould tie continued:— Firstly—Upon the strikers resuming work, negotiations will be resumed at the point whore'they were broken off on September 26. Secondly—The Government will gunranteo no reduction of wages until March 31.nest, nnd at any time after DeconVber 31 Jho Gorernment will be ready to.discuss, in view of the circumstances then existing, the possible extension of that date. Thirdly—The Government is prepared to discuss any unfairness or hardship to any particular grade of workmen through the operation of the scheme of standardisation. Fourthly—ln the event of failure to *greo on any question' arising in connection with Paragraph 3, the matter shall be referred to arbitration. The National Union of Railwaynien refused these, terms. Mr. Lloyd George thon proposed a truce to the strike for a few days in order that: negotiations might, be resumed. The Railwayman's, Union agreed, but only on condition that the Government were prepared to work out a basis of standardisation to operate similarly to various grades as; in the case of those grades where a settlement had been effected. The Government rejected this proposal, because the grades referred to wore settled .on their special merits, and the understanding was that, the other grades now in dispute should 1m» settled on their own merits, and because the demand waa orfy a repetition of the original claim, which already had ken refused. Mr. Lloyd George then made the following , counter-proposals :— 1. The Government is prepared to agree lo a truce of seven days, from date, with fat I resumption ot work, in order to discuss: (a) The period of the standardisation of wages. (b) Any unfairness or hardship in any particular grade arising under standardisation. In the .event of failure to agree on uny question, it ehf-.1l be referred to arbitration, The Primes-Minister indicated that if tho men were prepared to return to work on this basis, arrears of wages would bo paid,to stinkers; bu?if at the end of dye days after resumption the.men concluded that the negotiation;: could not be brought to a satisfactory conclusion, they must undertake to givs forty-eight hours' notice before ceasing work. If tho negotiations were again broken off tho men shovf.d agree to hand over all the plant in good working order, and run all tho trains to their destinations; also, the men should agree to work harmoniously with the raKlwav servants who had remained in the service, or who had returned to work. The Government Kailway Executive agreed to undertake that there would be no victimisation of striker?. The' National Union of Railwaynien rejected this proposal, and the conference then terminated.—Neuter. DEFINITE PLEDGE BY THE PRIME ' MINSTER, REINSTATEMENT FOR MEN WHO .RETURN AT ONCE. London, October 3. Offioial.-Tteplyinsr to a telegraphic inquiry from the editor of the "Liverpool Expires," Mr. Lloyd George wired; that every man who returns to work immediately wi.'.l be reinstated, and will receive the "back pay due to him.—Reutcr. WHY THE WEEK'S WAGE WAS WITHHELD. London, October 2. The Government announces that tho withholding of the .raihvaymen's wages for la6t weok was decided upon on the ground that tho men broke their contracts and failed to give due notice of thoir intention to strike. Tho damages for which the railwr.ymen were legally liable owing "to the (stoppage was much greater than tho amount of wages withheld. Tho newspapori recall the Victorian Governments example in claiming from the railway strikers a week's wages in lieu of notice. The Governments decision to withhold a week's wages is regarded as a grave mistake, as it only tends to stiffen tho rnilwaymen's backs. Telegrams are pouring in snowing- the strength and solidarity of the railwaymen and the other trade unions which share the rnilwaymen's views. IMPORTANT CONFERENCE OH TUESDAY WITH AUTHORITY TO DECIDE ON ACTION. (Roe. October 5, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 3. lir. Robert Williams stated that the flaxlcn Hall conference, after the breakdown of' the negotiation?, resolved to convene a conference for Tuesday, which will havo the authority of tho responsible trades unions to order or enlace in any form of moral and sympathetic

support of the railwnymen in tlio struggle they aro waging for trades unionism. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TRANSPORT WORKERS MEET THE PRIME MINISTER "MOST FATEFUL INTERVIEW OF THE AVEEK." (Rec. October 5, 5.5 p.m.) London. October 3. Mr. Lloyd George, at noon to-day, received llie Transport Workers' delegation. This is considered the most fateful interview of the week.. Tho Miners' Federation was invited to lifiid representatives, and the meeting was adjourned. The transport workers had a conference during the afternoon.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. , DOOR NOT BARRED, MERELY AJAR (lice. October 5, 5.5 p.m.) London, October 3. The high hopes of a speedy settlement of the railway, strike, which were general yesterday, have vanished. The hsrst that can be said now is that the •loor is not barred and bolted, but is still aiar. Tho renewal of tho deadlock arises from Mr. Lloyd George's contention that tlio men must return to work before negotiations can be resumed. Tho railwaymen's leaders refuse to accept thta. considering that it would, if agreed to, be interpreted as a defeat, whereas the rniiwaymen still show fight. Messrs. Thomas and Bromley decline to order tho men back unless assured that the Government intends to amend their position regarding the scale of wages. The transDort workers and other unions associated with the railwaymen, however, are trying to find it formula wlift)h will ba satisfactory to Mr. Lloyd George without offending the railwaymen. The alternative is an extension of the strike, which all except the extremists arc desirous of avoiding. Tho undcsirablcness of extending the strike is emphasised bv the fact that a number of provincial branches of tho railwaymen yesterday telegraphed to Mr. Thomas, suggesting a resumption of work. All tho lenders recognise that public opinion, as opposed to trade unionism, is mobilised against the strike- Moreover, the small amount of the strike pay is troubling many of the men. This is based on the rules of the union, which were framed before the war, and is quite inadequate in face of the present prices of foodstuffs. The holding back of the railwaymen's pay is much debated. Many of the nublie doubt the wisdom of .v. drastic a step, especially when negotiations are going on. Tho Government has issued an explanation on the point, taking full responsibility for its decision. It noints out that it would not be justified in handing over to the strikers a sum which might be used to prolong the struggle. Moreover, it is long-estab-lish railway custom to retain tho week's monov in the event of a strike, as tho men keep their uniforms. The Government continually insists that it is not lighting trades unionism, and emphasises this in newspaper advertisements, in the kinema theatres, by speeches, am. other forms of publicity. Triumph of Motor Transport. Perhaps the most remarkable result of the strike has been to prove conclusively that the Government can carry on the national life whether the railways run or not. The week's experience has entirely disproved the oft-re-peated contention that the State is at the mercy of men carrying on vital services. Indeed, tho motor transport has been so successful that it actually has raised the question whether tho strike of 1919 may not prove to be the end of the railway age, which has, lasted a century. Lorries are saving rchandlings by delivering the goods to the actual markets, and have often been actually saving time compared with the railways. Tho Government is daily introducing improvements, new schemes, and devices. Water-borne transport is supplementing the lorries, 'Regent's Park, in addition to Hyde Park, has been closed, and converted into a clearing-house and market for produce, particularly fish, vegetables, and frozen meat. The supply of milk is already 75 per cent, of the normal amount. Considerable quantities of are being moved by road in the pro-, vinces. Mr. Thomas's statement of the , railwaymen's case is shown in the kinema theatres alongside Mr. Lloyd George's. Both the writers are postered on the films as introductions to their messages. A REMARKABLEJEATURE OF CRISIS TRADE UNION EFFORTS TO LOCALISE- THE STRIKE. (Rec. October 5, 5.5. p.m.) London. October 3. A review of the situation states that one of the most remarkable features of the crisis is the effort that the outside trade unions have made, and aro inafce ing. to prevent any extension of tlio strike. There is no parallol in the history of trade disputes of 6uch intermedi-' ary 'action, which l is partly due to tho fact that the leaders know that many of the trades unionists consider that tho railwaymen havo no real justification for their lightning strike, and to the fear that there will be only a partial response to a call for a general strike, but it is also duo to the leaders realising that the railwaymon aro not fighting private employers, and so there is a possibility of the-dispute at any moment developing into a full political "directaction" movement, whicji the majority nf the responsible leaders desire to avoid. Even such ' a fire-eater as Mr. Robert Williams is foremost among the negotiators. Practically the whole of the executives of the principal trade unions have been siflJiTg at Caxton Hall, so as to be able to make any instant decision regarding the strike, Some of these delegates walked from Manchester to London, refusing to ride in "blackleg trains."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SABOTAGE DELIBERATE ATTEMPT TO WRECK A TRAIN (Rec. October 5, 5.5 p.m.) London : .October 3. The Great Western Railway Company reports that a Bristol train collided with an iron, bar that had. been clamped to a. rail at Swindon. Investigations showed that two nieces of rail, 17 feet long, were also lying across the up and down lines, and large pieces of timber, which the train carried seven hundred yards. Elsewhere! pieces of heavy chain were laid on the track, but the engine wan only slightly damaged in this case, and did not leavo the rails. The officials acknowledge the loyalty and invaluable co-operation cl the railway clerks in re-establishing the train services.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. GOVERNMENT APPEALS TO THE CITIZENS GUARDS TO ASSIST THE POLICE. (Rec. October 5, 11.10 p.m.) London, October 4. The Government has issiud an appeal to the Lord-Lieutenants of the counties, the Mayors and local authorities, to take activo stops to form citizen guards to assist the police to protect property, maintain order, to secure the liberty of peaceful citizens, and to maintain the supply of food—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HOPES HANG INJHE BALANCE THE EFFORTS AT MEDIATION. London, October 3. Hopes hang in the balance. The Caxton Hall Committee continues its efforts at mediation. It is now closeted with tho Prime Minister, but Mr. C. T. Cramp's extremism still has the upper hand with the railwaymen's executive. Ho secured the refusal of the , Government's terms yesterday, declaring that they were equal to a demand for unconditional surrender, which the railwayman could not possibly accept. Tho full Cabinet met in the evening and continued its deliberations till t.ho morning. The Lord Chancellor and tho Attorney-General were called in. It is not known whether tho mediators are passing from tho advocacy of a compromise to throats of strikes in suppon of tho railwnymen, but Mr. Williams, who is acting as the committee's secretary, refers to other unions becoming nffeot'ed. The Vehicle Workers' Union's

strike ballot-papers aro vetimiable tonight. Tlio Ministry of Transport h'as issued an urgent call for 2000 volunteer 'bus conductors in view of possibilities. A number of union executives iti the provinces are passion resolutions an favour of sympathetic strikes. Some are voting levies to assist the railwnyinen. Picketing and counter-picketing are intensified. There have been a few conflicts, but reports of attempted sabotage continue. The latest attempt to derail a train at Dumbarton was a leeble effort. A chair was placed across the rail and the .engine brushed its aside. Reports from the strike committees ot seventy province:'- contain numerous demands for tne resignation of Sir Eric Geddes.—Umtcd Service,