THE RAILWAY DISPUTE.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1919, Page 4

THE RAILWAY DISPUTE.

FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE SIR JAMES ALIEN. , LOCO. MEN AGREE TO CONFERENCE,

By Telegraph. —Press Association. Wellington, Last Night Further correspondence of ft lengthy nature has passed between tlie Acting Prime Minister and the Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Association in reference to the association's; demands. After reviewing the circumstances with regard to previous deputations, Sir James Allen concludes his letter with the following statement: "With regard to the suggestion that a roundtable conference should be arranged .to further diwuss the proposals, I have to state that the Hon. W. H. Herriee and the General Manager of Railways would be quite willing to meet your council on June 9, the questions for discussion being matters that affect the Railway Department, which is under the control of Mr. Hcrries. He will, of course, as is usAjal in such cases, preside at the meeting. A little reflection' will, I hare no doubt, convince you that another Minister of the Crown could not permit himself to be placed in a false position by presiding over a meeting held for the purpose of reviewing the decision s of his colleague concerning that isoUeague's administration of his own Department. With reference to a 44-hour week, I would point out that this applies strictly to the various; workshops, and not to running sections of maintenance, locomotive, or traffic branches." In reply to this letter, a communication has been sent to the Acting Prime Minister by the Locomotive Engineers, Firemen and Cleaners' Association, in which they state that their executive council would be pleased to accept arrangements made to meet the MinUter of Railways, and express hope that, for tho sake of industrial peace, some good will eventuate. The executive council regrets that the Government could not agree to allow a Minister who had experience in railway administration and who gave general satisfaction while Minister of Railways to act as chairman. It is contended thfat Sir James Allen's statement regarding the 44-hour week is not in keeping with the Minister*! promise that if he gave anything to loco- men he could not resist to othen in the Railway Service. t