BRITISH RAILWAYS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 12, 16 January 1933, Page 7

BRITISH RAILWAYS

UNPRECEDENTED DEADLOCK

QUESTION OF WAGE CUTS

* '. * LONDON, 14th. Januai-y. An unprecedented deadlock has been caused by the issue of five separate reports by members of the National Wages Board for Railways. Hitherto the board has always managed to agree on certain principal findings. This time only the railways' own nominees. accept the companies' full claim for wages reductions totalling five million pounds. The union delegates are unanimously against them, and the representatives of railway users are divided, two ; for and two: against the claim. The chairman, Sir Harold Morris, separately reports in favour of a reduction only to the extent of one-fifth of the railways' demand. This is acceptable neither to the companies nor unions. None of the findings are binding. The newspapers take a serious view, of the situation. Some suggest that the end of the board as a method of conciliation may result. While financial and most of the Conservative organs express the opinion that the companies' case has been proved, the "Daily Express." takes the view that wages cuts will , only increase trade depression by reducing the people's spending power. It holds that the companies and unions should agree to the chairman's recommendations.