N.S.W. RAILWAY STRIKE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 February 1922, Page 5

N.S.W. RAILWAY STRIKE.

REPORT OF COMMISSIONER. QUESTION OF REINSTATEMENT. I By Telegraph.—Presa Assn.—Copyright. Received Feb. 20, 9.50 a.m. Sydney, Feb. 20. After an inquiry extending from October, 1920, Mr. Justice Edmunds, royal commissioner, has issued a report on the railway strike of 1917. He nnds that the Commissioners of Railways in issuing the seniority regulation exceeded the terms of settlement reached after the strike, and that several of their acts in regard to the employment of loyalists and l volunteers were a violation of the terms of settlement. Mr. Justice ’Edmunds declares that the charge of conspiracy between the Commissioners and the then Government' to ignore the settlement was without foundation. He recommended that ex-strikers should be deemed ineligible for re-employment, only on the grounds of having taken a prominent part in the strike, having committed during the strike overt acts of sabotage, intimidation, offensive language. >r conduct to railway employees, or for the avowed adoption of militant unionism as a rule of conduct in the service. He makes numerous recommendations regarding the grading of loyalists, volunteers and re-engaged strikers, sustaining the recognition of the two former classes and that strikers now eligible or becoming eligible for reemployment be given preference for any vacancies. Other recommendations include that the Commissioners should refrain from interference with the decision of the Appeal Board, that the Railway Act be amended to embody the decisions of the Commission and that a board be appointed to ensure such decisions being carried out and that jurisdiction be given to the Arbitration Court to hear applications for redress of grievances by acts or omissions on the part of the Commissioners.

The report says that, although the Railway Act makes the Commissioners independent of interference by any outside authorities, ministerial or political or otherwise, the evidence disclosed an attempt to exercise such illegal outside pressure, which the Commissioners firmly withstood in some instances, but in others they submitted to it. The erecutive of the Railway Union pass<?d a resolution expressing disappointment and indignation at the strike s eport and calling on .the Government to reinstate the men and restore their seniority. Received Feb. 20, 11.5 p.m. Sydney, Feb. 20. The Railway Commissioner states that ho will carry out the recommendations of the railway report where consistent with the duty of railway Com-missioners.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.