THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16947, 23 September 1920, Page 6

THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

LOCOMOTIVE BRANCH RESTIVE

DANGER OF DEADLOCK. j (SPECIAL TO "'TttE PRESS.") j WELLINGTON. Sop timber 2*2. Something like a deadlork has been reachcc*. in the dispute between the Railway Department and the loconiotito branch of the service (tho Engineers, Firemen and Cleaners' Association). Alter the railway strike in May last, special tribunals were set up to consider the claims of tho railway men. The members of the Traffic branch the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants—and tne clerical branch —the Railway Officers' Institute— accepted tl\e recommendations of tho tribunals that dealt with their cases, but the loco, bruuel* lias not acccptcd. A > Lot ot the members of the branch resulted in a largo majority voting against. the nc-. eoptanre of the terms proposed by the tribunal. . , Sincc. then the executive ol the E.F.C.A. has conferred with the Minister of Railwavs, but no settlement has been reached, and it is reported now tnat the loco, iflen are threatening another stoppage. The chief point m dispute relates'to hours of work. llio loco, moil aro demanding a forty-lour hours' week. This was not a* part ot tneir original claim, and tho Depnrt- ! Mont i". iiot prepare*! to make the concession, which would have to be extended to other branches of the Railway service nnd to other Government Departments. The roint has been discussed with the Minister of Railways ('Mr Massev), but no settlement has "been reached.