STRIKE PRACTICALLY SETTLED.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 30 April 1920, Page 3

STRIKE PRACTICALLY SETTLED.

A.S.R.S. MEN RESUME WORK. 1 ..... OTHER DISPUTE UNDER DISCUSSION. TRAINS WILL PROBABLY RUN AS USUAL TO-MORROW. (Special to "The Otaki Mail.") Wellington, 2.30 p.m. •The strike, so far as the A.S.R.S. is concerned, has oeon definitely declared ' of! as from noon to-day. The loco, men’s dispute is notv under discussion, and there is every prospect of a settlement being effected. It is generally thought, probable that the full railway time-table will be resumed to-morvo'.v morning. LATEST. CONFERENCE WITH LOCO. MKH ..........1 r- - - iH -<■ Wellington, 3.35 p.m, The Conference with the Loco, men is still proceeding. Nothing further to report. , J foil A.S.R.S. MEN JOIN STRIKERS. A SERIOUS POSITION. It was announced yesterday that the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants had joined the loco, men in the strike. The following intimation was sent to the Prime Minister: "Recent ballot overwhelmingly in favour of general strike. Our recent representations to the Government and the Department that the situation was critical not having been taken seriously. we have now no alternative but •to give effect to the members’ decision forthwith. For the present the strike will be confined lo the North Island.

"We have done everything wc possibly could 10 avert trouble,” said the secretary of the society (Mi. M. JMack), in speaking to a "Post" representative about the. decision to strike. "As I have repeatedly stated in the Press the Prime Minister has said that the cost of living has increased by per cent during the war. We are quite prepared to accept that (52 per cent as the basis of negotiations so far us wages arc concerned, but the working conditions have also to be improved." ANOTHER STRIKE THREATENED. ■ POST AND TELEGRAPH MEN DISSATISFIED. At a crowded meeting of post and telegraph men. held at Wellington on Wednesday night, the following resolutions were carried unanimously:— "That this meeting of members of the F. and T. Association, after hearing Mr Combs’ .statement, urges upon the executive to demand from the Government within seven days an interview regarding an increase in salaries, war bonu.-. etc., failing the granting of an interview, monster meetings to be held on Sunday, Oth May, to decide what action is to be taken." "That the executive instruct Mr Combs lo communicate with the secretary of the E.I’.C.A. our willingness to financially help their union to the best of our ability.’’"That this meeting insisits that the executive demand from the Government. within three days a straight-out ‘yes’ or ‘nv’ as to whether it going to grant tlie war bonus as promised by Sir Joseph Ward. It the answer is in the negative this meeting pledges itself to stand by any action the executive may think lit.

POSITION MORE HOPEFUL. MR MASSEY CONFERS WITH THE MEN. The Prime Minister arrived at Wellington from Napier last evening alter his long journey in very bad weather from Rotorua by road. A few minutes after his arrival he met representatives of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. That interview continued for about an hour. The locomotive men next had their talk, a much shorter interview, and then last of al the representatives of tlie..First Din siou Society find a few minutes with the Prime Minister. All the interviews were over in an hour and three-

quarters. . . After he had met all the societies. Mr Massey made the following statement: —"I have met representatives ,f tho First and the Second Divisions, and also of the locomotive men. In every ease the discussion was quite frank and friendly. I cannot go into details, and 1 cannot say anything definite just yet. I will say that sutistat iory progress ha- been made. The A.S.R.S. and the locomotive men are to meet me again to-morrow.