THE RAILWAYS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2736, 22 May 1924, Page 3

THE RAILWAYS.

WHAT CAUSED STRIKE COLLAPSE. AN ULTIMATUM THAT WAS NEVER DELIVERED. Wellington, Yesterday. One reason for the sudden collapse “of the railway strike has now been made public. It is said that in addition to the demand that the railwaymen must leave the Alliance of Labour or lose their superannuation and concessions, the Railway Department intended to wield another strong weapon in order to bring about a quick, and from the Department’s point of view, successful termination of the strike. This was to issue an ultimatum that . those men not returning to work by a certain date were to be dismissed from the service &nd their places filled by others of whom it is stated there was a long waiting list. By some means the news of this intention on the part of the Department seems to have got abroad amongst the railwaymen before it was officially conveyed and it is believed that this was one of the real reasons why so many men drifted back to duty, thus hastening the collapse of the strike. BREAK WITH ALLIANCE OF LABOUR. AS PRELUDE TO RESTORATION OF PRIVILEGES. GOVERNMENT OFFERS ALTERNATIVEV TRIBUNALS. Christchurch, May 20. The Lyttelton Times states that the Government has given the A.S. -R.S. the choice of four alternative proposals, which are: — (1) The Arbitration Court as at present constituted to deal with the railway dispute; (2) the Arbitration Court with a representative from each side associated with it to deal with the dispute; (3) Parliament to deal with the dispute; (4) a Royal Commission to be set up within Jive months to deal with the dispute. If either the first or the second proposal is accepted, the hearing will take place almost immediately. If the fourth is accepted the hearing will be delayed until after the session of Parliament. It is stated that in any event the question of hour’s will be discussed and that there is no undertaking that the 44hour week will be maintained. The Times also publishes the following correspondence on the subject of the restoration of railwaymen’s privileges.— From the General Manager to Mr Mack, general secretary of the A.S.R.S. —“With, reference to your interview with me regarding the restoration of privileges in respect to free passes, privilege tickets and superannuation of employees who recently went- on strike. I have to inform you that as already intimated, the'action of the men in striking automatically broke their service. The restoration of the privileges affected by such break is therefore a matter for negotiation, and in that connection I desire to call your attention to the fate that at. the interview between your president, yourself, the Minister of Railways and myself immediately subsequent to your society’s decision to call off the strike, an undertaking was given by the president that the society would terminate its affiliation to the Alliance of Labour and take immediate action in that direction. i shall be glad to have a written assurance that the necessary steps have been taken and that the matter of terminating affiliation - of the society to the organisation mentioned will be pursued to duality without undue delay. Un receipt of this information and an undertaking from your society that it wilt hot become a member of any organisation not. composed exclusively of employees in the Railway Department, the matter of restoration of superannuation and other privileges that have been affected by the break in the men’s service will receive favourable consideration.” , f • My Mack’s reply to this read: — “in reply to your letter of the 15th May, i have to advise that my executive have now taken action to cancel its affiliation with the Alliance of Labour, and also undertakes that it will not again affiliate during its term of office. JL shall be glad to receive official intimation that free passes, privilege tickets and/superannuation. of members have now been definitely restored.”, FINALITY REAL HKD. SECFSbiON FROM ALUANOE CONFIRMED. Wellington, Yesterday. Finality ai regard to the recent railway strike was reached yesterday when the Department of New Zealand Railways despatched its Jinal reply to the Amalgamated Society of Rahway Servants announcing the conditional restoration of superannuation rightp and Dee pass privilege tickets to tliose who were contributors to the fund on April 21st last.

Tiie executive ol the A.SJL&. has r acceded to the' demand ol the Department, tv cancel its affiliation with the Alliance ol Labour and has taken steps in this direction. It has undertaken that it will not again - affiliate during its term ol office. One ol the Department’s conditions is that the society is not to be affiliated with any other outside union. The Department’s reply concludes; “In the event ol the society again contravening this agreement by affiliating with any other outside organisations the Department to

withdraw recognition of your society.” The compulsory retirement of the Amalgamated Society of' Railway Servants from the Alliance of Labour marks one of the most important developments that have been recorded in the industrial history of New Zealand for some years past. Affiliation with the Alliance of Lab"iir had not been recognised bv ihe Department, which, while unofficially aware of it had never been officially informed.

Tn answer this evening to a question by press representatives. the Minister for Railways (Hon. .T. G. Coates) said that in consideration M the decision of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants to conform with the requirement that it should sever its connection with Alliance of Labour he had approved the restoration of the superannuation rghts, free passes and privileges of the railwaymen. Further, he had directed the General Manager of Railways (Mr R. W. McVilIv) to state that in the event of the society again contravening the agreement at any time by affiliating with any other outside organisation he (the Minister) would no longer recognise the society as a railway organisation.