"ROYAL COMMISSION"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3162, 14 August 1917, Page 6

"ROYAL COMMISSION"

UNIONS PROPOSALS TURNED DOWN The secretary of the Labour Council .(Mri E. J. Kavunagh, M.L.C.), stated that a Defence Committee had been appointed by the conference of unions concerned directly and indirectly in the dispute, with the object of carrying on negotiations for a settlement .with the Government and the Railway Commissioners. This body had decided, at its meeting, upon the following proposals as a basis of an agreement:—

I, That the Railway Commissioners revert to the position as it existed on on June 1; . 2. That the Government appoint a Royal Commission, consisting of. representatives of the Railway Commissioners and the unions to inquire into the whole card system; and upon this beiug granted tho men will return to ■work. These proposals, he said, would be forwarded on to the Government. Proceeding, Sir. Kavanagh said: "We believe the card system is one. by which the Commissioners think they are going to gam oertain benelits. Whilst giving them credit fov thinking it a good system, as far as we know they have had lio previous .practical experience of it, and, tlierefore, their knowledge of it is necessarily theoretical. They have asserted that the system, if put into operation, will not inilict any hardship on the workns\ -?-' ho latter > on tbe othel ' band, say that it will and I hold the opinion that not only will .the operative work to the ordinary time-sheet, whereby the time on any job may be accurately and effectively recorded but he will actually be working against the clock. In other words, that Hβ will be like a runner in a sprinting contest, with the foreman holding tho watch and shouting "Go," and then checking him again at the conclusion, lhat, to say the.least of it, is a very irritating.system to work under. ' In regard to the idea that the system may be wrong, we suggest that a commission bo appointed to inquire into the TShole matter in dispute. We would be given an opportunity of placing our views beloro tho commission, and on the other Hand, the commissioners would have the opportunity of atating their views. The commission, having heard both sides, would no doubt be able to say which side was right. Apart from that, this course ■would progably evolve a scheme that would not only be acceptable to the nion, but also give the commispjongrs what they want in tho matter of ascertaining the time and cost of different works 'When we say we will go back to the position a? existing on June 1 it must bo understood, that we mean as tho legal fraternity would say, 'We begin do novo.' By this we believe we are not asking- the Railway Commissioner to sacrifice any dignity or prestige. We ask him to view .tho matter as we view it—that there is a certain amount of misnnderstandiug on both sides, and that the only way in which it can be overcome is by an inquiry such as we suggest. On the other had, we are prepared to resume work and bring things back to the normal.

"If the Government is really serious regarding tho convenience of the public j and the welfare of the community, as I believe it is," concluded Mr. Kavanagh, "I believe it wilt accept tho proposals." Asked what his personal view was of the general situation and possible developments, Mr. Kavanagh said he was afraid of what might happen if a settlement were not alTected. There was every possibility of the trouble extending throughout the whole railway and tramway service. This must affect private employment to a big degree. In tho , whole of his 26 years' experience in fto industrial world, ho had never known strikers as determined or unanimous as those at present in question. There were thousands of men who had nil their lives been living on "the broad line," and when they look action it was only fair to assume thoro was something serious behind it. The susgeslion that any I.W.W. OT extreme Socialism wns bobiml the dispute was a. mistake. • Thero was nothing of tho sort. "on itTmrits." GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE. When informed of the defence committee's proposals Mr. Fuller, Act-ing-Premier said that ho could not express any opinion until 'the proposals came officially before him. "Tho Government," he added, "is quite ready to consider any scheme for settlement on its merits." Mr. Fraser, Chief Commissioner, when spoken to, said that he preferred to make no comment. There is reason to believe, however,

that the Government and the Commissioners will insist upon <i resumption ot work undar fae caTu system before any tribunal is appointed to inquire into tbo question at issue. In other words, no departure will be made from tlie olfer of tho Government a≤ announced by Mr. Puller in Parliament.