BRITISH RAILWAYS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 73, 16 September 1911, Page 5

BRITISH RAILWAYS

EVIDENCE BEFORE THE COMMISSION. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. London, September 14. The executive, of the Society of Railway Servants is sitting daily to consider a difficulty that has arisen -owing to some companies contending that the recent agreement only covers the interpretation of the existing award and does not cover the hours and wages, definitely fixed by such awards, until 1014. Many sectional meetings of railway employees during the week passed resolutions threatening another strike unless higher wages and shorter hours were granted. The assistant-manager of the London and Nortb-Western Railway stated that the unions only represented 27 per cent, of the railway men. The most serious aspect of the demand for recognition of the unions would be the lowering of the standard of discipline. The chief factor in the recent unrest was the extravagant hopes fostered by the unions. The companies had accepted the conciliation scheme to secure prolonged peace. A MANAGER'S EVIDENCE. Received 15, 9.15 p.m. London, September 15. The assistant manager of the London and North-Western Railway admitted that there had been some delay in the creation of boards. The railwaymen had been educated into referring everything to the Conciliation Board, instead of to the directors of the companies. In reference to the cost of the scheme, his company had ofl'cred to hear the cost, but the railway societies refused the unions' demands. The abolition of bonuses in order to limit individual output was depriving the men of from two shillings to five shillings weekly. Witness suggested abolishing the Central Board, thus increasing the importance of sectional boards, and the annual appointment of permanent arbitrators.