RAILWAY TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1920, Page 4

RAILWAY TROUBLE

TERMS Ob’ SETTLEMENT.

The following are the terms agreed to by the Prime Minister and the executive of the Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Gleaners’ Association: — (1) An independent tribunal to be set up, to consist of tour members, two to be appointed by the Government and two by the Association. The tribunal to be called a Special Conciliation Commission.

(2; Two assessors to be appointed by each party. In addition, each party bo be represented by an advocate. (3) The whole matters in dispute to be gone into by the Commission, and the result of the deliberations to be submitted for approval to each party to the dispute. (4) This Commission to he set up within seven days from this date. Each party to the dispute to use its best endeavours to proceed with the hearing by the Special Conciliation Commossion. (5) The Conciliation Commission in reporting the result of its deliberations, to also report from what date any increases of wages and any conditions should retrospectively commence. ((>) The executive of the Association agree to advise their members and all whom they represent, to return to work at once. The Prime Minister agrees that no member of the Association or any person who is employed in any manner in the railway service shall bo prosecuted in any manner to what is known as victimisation.

(7) The executive desires that one of the questions to be considered and dealt with and reported on by the Commission shall be the claim of the Locomotive Engine-drivers, Firemen, and Cleaners’ Association to be the only body recognised by the Government as representing either collectively or individually those men who are its members in terms of its rules. The Prime Minister agrees that that question should be so considered and dealt with, but if it involves any question of the rights of any other union or association that union or association elinll be beard on that point by the Commission if it so desires. Dated Wellington, May Ist, 1920. The agreement is signed by Mr Massey for the Government, and by Mr F. J. Lowin (president) for the Association. THE COMMISSIONS. The Wellington “Post” states that the personnel of the three Commissions to enquire iisLo the demands of Die three branches of railway servants will probably be announced during the weekend. It was provided in the agreements that the Commissions should bo appointed within seven days. In the cases of the Officers’ Institute and the Amalgamated Society, each organisation appoints its own members who may be directly concerned with the dispute. An independent chairman must be agreed upon by the parties. The Special Commission to deal with the locomotive men’s demands, will be of an independent character. The E.F.O.A. takes this to mean that it shall appoint as its representatives two men outside its organisation. They theretorc look to the Government to make appointments outside the Railway Department. The constitution does not provide for. a chairman, but it is presumed that one of the four members of the Commission will act as chairman during the hearing of the dispute, in order that points of procedure may be readily settled. When the Commission deliberates in private there will be no chairman. The various appointments are awaited by the railwaymen with great interest.