BETTER PAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 January 1920, Page 5

BETTER PAY.

BRITISH RAtLWAYMEN, < NEW-GOVEKNMENTTBiaiS. By Talosrtph.—Fteu Aim.—CopfUlWReceived Jan. 5, 9.45 p.m. London, Jan. 4. An official statement on rcihraymeaft wages confirms yesterday's cable thft branch delegates of the union meet Ott Wednesday to consider the terms. Mr. J. H. Thomas, MP. (secretary it the National Union of Railwaymen), addressing a mass meeting of riilwaynta at Birmingham, recommended aecejj§« ance of the terms although these are milt all they wanted, nor all they intendfd ultimately to get. A reduction in the cafe of living was more urgent than an facrease in wages. -' A mass meeting of East London, Rhondda Valley, North Hampton, Caylisle, and Newcastle railwayman uaaM< moualy (rejected the Government's offer, apparently on the ground that it is Vii as generous as that granted to the locomotive men, who received a wage bastd on the highest rate paid in each gndfe, instead of a wage hand on -the averaga grade. The effect of tho Government's prtV poual ia that thousands of men getittf shillings a week immediate advaaefc which, with an additional five shffltap war bonus, will cost the Governmew £5,000,000 annually. A significant fe*?. hire is that a scheme is evolved under hich the cost of living Will be th* determining factor in permanent wag» rates. When the settlement is confirm*! £300,000 in back pay wfll be distrtf buted among r&ilwaymenv—Aug,-NS* Cable Assn.