RAILWAY TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1920, Page 2

RAILWAY TROUBLE

(By Electric Telegraph— CoD.yright,

LONDON, Jan. 15. The whole railway posiion is now inlefinite and uncertain. There is no

fresh announcement. The railwaymen’s delegates have > been discussing the Government’s reply I to them, promised to-day. The details j are not made public by the Government. The discussion has been adjourn ed without a decision yet. The adjournment of the discussion upon the Government’s reply is regard ed by some as a hopeful sign. j The delegates all participated in a : most animated four hours’ debate, but; without coming to any decision. j Some of the delegates declared that j the reply meant merely some modifica- i tions of detail and the removal of cer- | tain anomalies. This, they showed, | would not meet the demands of the men’s branches. It was emphasised by delegates that only the Government’s acceptance of the principle of proper wage standardisation, based on the highest wages in fcaeh grade, plus the Avar bonus, and the Government’s abandonment of its idea of having a sliding scale of Avages as heretofore, Avould justify the delegates in voting for a settlement. While the deliberations of the ratil-AA-aA-nien’s Relegates contipue as i° I Government’s latest terms ,the raihvaymen’s offiejal orgap partially lifts the veil from the raihvay men’s last Aveek’s proceedings. The organ publishes an official report of the meetings, slioAving that only one item of the Government's offer has been accepted, namely the standardisation of railway Avork by the eliminating of a large number of

grades. The meetings resolved to demand standardised Avages, based on the highest rate of Avages paid before the war in the gradp, plus the Avar wage . bonus in each grade concerned. The men rejected the principle of a sliding scale, based on the cost of living because the cost of living is not the only factor on Avliicli Avages should he fixed, and it would tend to stereotype the present standard of comfort, and would prevent any improvements being obtained, irrespective of lioav tlie . productive forces of society may improve. The meeting of delegates also demand ed that a large number of raihvay men who are excluded from the Government proposals should be included The delegates demand also that any settlement should be applicable to tjre Irish railwaymeni Tlitese ijemiopg were communicated to Sir Eric Geddes. He wrote alleging that: “Ihe del - mtes lmd overthrown the wlio.e of three month's negotiations, and had reverted to their original demands Avhieh Urn Government had decided it could not concede.”

RAIbWAYM'EN ppNJfEJ*

(Received This Day at 3 a.m.) ' LONDON, January toA meeting of' rflUwaymeu wipi Sir •Fvic Gcddes this afternoon lasted two and a half hours. The proceedings discussion tOQk placp. Oediies staff that Government was prepared to make substantial concessions, but was no willing to yield on the general principle. Ho AH M Cabinet was anxious that the rail way niefi shoidd give tlie new scheme a fair trial. Mr Thomas thanked Geddos for carefully considering the men’s objections to Government’s proposal. He said that the matter would lie fully submitted to a meeting of delegates this cvenng, and the National Union of Rail-way-men would subsequently reply to Government’s new offer. Sir E/G'eddes' empfiaiisod that Cabinet was anxious to reach a ment acceptable to all‘parties. Mr Thomas replying, said that the National Union of Railway-men would do a!] fhaf it- could, to help towards that epd.

A SETTLEMENT AGREED ON. (Received this day at 8.40 a.m.) LONDON, January 15. The Railwaymen’s leaders now, by a majorify, have accepted a settlement on the basis of fic offer