LOGO MEN'S POSITION.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 104, 1 May 1920, Page 12

LOGO MEN'S POSITION.

CAUSE OF DEADLOCK. STATEMENT BY SECRETARY. PRIME MTSTISTER-.5 REPLY. fHy Telegraph.—J*Tess Association.l WELICTGTOX, Friday. " The executive of the Enginedrivers, Firemen and Cleaners' Assoriation" (said iJie secretary, Mr. W. McArley) " is firm in its attitude. Wβ have made claims that we consider to be fair aud just. AYe consider that, failing a settlement on the lines that we have suggested, the alternative is for the Government to go through the schedule of wages and conditions point by point and arrive at a settlement. Wβ are anxious to bring the dispute to a speedy settlement, and with that end in view vro were prepared to accept the conciliation -commission proposed liy Mr. Massey. If we arc to go through wages and conditions item by item it will take a considerable time and prolong tho dispute. Wβ met the Prime Minister to-day in what we consider to be a fair way. We gave in to him on a good many points, or at least wo considered we did, and when wo asked him to concede one point he would not do it. That in- where we stand to-night." Mr. McArley added that the conference between the Prime Minister and the executive of the Enginedrivers, Firemen and. Cleaners* Association ha<l broken completely, and no proposal had yet been made for its resumption. Ho could not tell what the future developments would bo. Thn Prime Minister replied to-night to the statement that the loco men had given "way on certain points, and that he had refused to give way on one concession asked of him/ "' All T caij say, -, replied Mr. Massey, " is this, that the points they are supposed to have conceded were of no value at all. really happened ivb3 that, ■with the assistance of Sir Francis Bell, I eiinply straightened up their language and ideas, put them in -workable form, in which shape T was prepared to accept them. I offered Mr. McArley and his friends practically the same- conditions which, the other tranches of the service ■had accepted. Tie asked for other con!cessions, which I found it impossible to ! grant. Tho granting of the concessions Ito the locomotive mon would have been \ grossly unfair to the other railwaymen (and to other branches of the Public Serjvice."