BRITISH RAILWAYS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 272, 11 August 1921, Page 5

BRITISH RAILWAYS

DECON ROL BILL WORKMEN AS DIRECTORS By Telegraph—Press Association—Oopyrleht (Rec. August 9, 8.30 p.m.) London, August 9. In the House of Commons, Air. G. N. Barnes moved amendments to the Railway Decontrol Bill, assuring railwaymen seven seats on the directorate of each group of companies. He said that joint control of industry would do more than anything elso to lessen disputes. Ths present proposal would give the workers an inside knowledge and a keener feeling of responsibility. Mr. J. H. Thomas, in opposing the amendment, said that amity between the companies and the men could not be achieved by imposing conditions on the companies which they had previously rejected. If the companies welcomed Mr. Barnes’s innovation, the workmen would jump at it. In the agreed scheme under which they were working, there was every opportunity for dealing with all disputes. If the workers had been mistaken in agreeing to that scheme they were responsible Lord Robert Cecil supported the amendment.

Sir Eric Geddes (Minister of Transport), replying, agreed with the principle underlying the proposal, but pointed out that no railway board would accept it, believing the time not yet tions, and withdrew his amendment. Mr. F. B. Mildmay and Major Hille, both of whom are directors, said that all the companies regarded the present working scheme as satisfactory, and intended tn work it smoothly. Mr. Barnes welcomed these declarations, and withdraw his amendment. Sir Forescus Flannery opposed the third reading of the Bill. He said he regretted that no provision had been made for the election of workmen as directors, of whom he had twenty years’ satisfactory experience. The Bill was road a third time.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.