TROUBLE LOOMING

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 114, 11 November 1919, Page 7

TROUBLE LOOMING

RAILWAYMEN'S WAGES

DEMAND FOR STANDARDISATION

.GOVERNMENT PREPARING FOR POSSIBILITIES.

(ENITBD PBD33 ASSOCIATION.—COFTRISBT.)

tABSTRAUAN-NEW ZEALAND CABU ASSOCIATION.)

(Received November 11, 8.30 a.m.)

LONDON, Bth November.

The railway wage question is again assuring a threatening aspect. A special conference of delegates to the National: Union of Railway men decided that the demand for the standardisation of wages must be immediately settled, ffhis decision was communicated to the Premier, who agreed to meet the Executive on the 13th.

The men demand the fullest standardisation, namely, that each grade shall be paid highest pre-war rate paid in any railway, plus 33s war wage. They contend that this principle was established in the case of the drivers and firemen, and must be extended to all railway employees, though the Government, contends that the settlement in the drivers' case established no principle, but merely gave them their deserts.

The Daily Telegraph states that delegates have adopted an extreme attitude, and have instructed the Executive to inform the Premier that delay will not be tolerated.

Mr J. H. Thomas (General Secretary to the National Union of Railwaymen) declares that the settlement must be immediate, and satisfactory. It is suggested in some quarters that the renewal of the Union's extreme demands must be taken in connection with the reported preparations by the Government for possible eventualities. The Daily Express states that a circular was recently issued to the students in a large engineering college in London asking if they were prepared to volunteer their services. It is reported that 1800 volunteers enrolled for the London underground lines.

Ihe Union officials assert that an cX tensive oganisation already is in existence for replacing strikers.