THURSDAY'S CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 103, 30 April 1920, Page 5

THURSDAY'S CONFERENCE.

PREMIER MEETS DELEGATES. FRANK ANT) FRINDLY DISCT'SSION. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, Thursday! On arriving in Wellington to-night Mr. Massey. looking very tired after his lemg motor journey over bad roads from Rotorua, via Taupo and Napier, met in conference, in the order named, tbe executives of the Amalgamated .Society of Railway Servants, tlle T^oc.motive I-'ngi-necrs' Association, and the Railway (Juicers' Institute. Tlie Attorney-General was present with Mr. Massey. Press representatives were not admitted to the .conference. On conclusion of the conference with the Amalgamated .Society of Railway Servants the president (Mr. K. Hampton) said t<i a correspondent: -"Tlie outlook for a better state of affairs is good, but I can't say anything definite yet."

Mr. MoArley (general secretary of the Kngine-drivcrs, Firemen and Cleaners' Association), on being approached as lie left the Cabinet room, in which the conferences were held, said: ""The Prime Minister is giving a statement." '"Can't, you say anything?"" ho was asked. "No."' he replied: "it is left to the Premier to make a statement." Mr. Dennehy (president of the Railway Officers' Institute), when questioned iii his turn, stated: "The Prime Minister gave us an assurance that nlenibors of the Institute would not 'be called upon to perform the work of the Second Division men: that is to say, work of the Enginedrivers. Firemen and Cleaners' Association and the, Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants on strike." Mr. "Dennehy stated further that lie had received shoals of messages from all over the country in regard to that point, and would like it telegraphed throughout the Dominion. >"or the rest, the Prime Minister would say all that could be said. Mr. Massey, on being interviewed, said: "I met the representatives of the First and Second Division, and also the Locomotive men. In each case the discussion was frank and friendly. I can't go into details, and 1 can't say anything detinite yet. But 1 will say that satisfactory progress has been made."

Tiip representatives of the three societies are t<. meet Mr. Alassuy to discuss details of settlement, which, judging from the smiling faces of all the representatives, is surely in sight. The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants has all along contended for a thoroughly impartial tribuna to inquire into any report upon the wages question and all other matters at issue, and. although it is not so stated to-night, it, is beieved that the ostabisliraent of such a tribunal will constitute the major part of the settlement arrived at.