BRITISH RAILWAYMEN

Evening Star, Issue 16911, 7 December 1918, Page 8

BRITISH RAILWAYMEN

DEMAND SHORTER HOURS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, December 5. There is a recrudescence of railway troubles in connection with the termination of the industrial truce. The men demand shorter hours. The situation is regarded as serious, and Mr J. H. Thomas, M.P., the railwaymeiTs secretary, has had a lengthy conterence with Sir Albert Stanley, President of the Board of Trade. LONDON, December 6, (Received December 7, at 10.15 a.m.) A sudden crisis has occurred in the railway world. Those responsible for the September trouble are endeavoring to precipitate an immediate strike unless the railway-men's national programme is conceded in principle. Mr Thomas has boon recalled to London, and is conferring with 'Sir Albert Stanley, president of the Board of Trade. Mr Thomas has sent a message to all the railwaymen’s branches that ho has given the necessary notice to' cancel the industrial truce, with a view to bringing the men’s national programme before the railway companies for negotiation, especially the question of an eight-hour day. [lt is doubtful whether the railway companies have taken over again tho control of their systems, which, on the outbreak of war, were commandeered and run by the Government, shareholders receiving dividends calculated on a pre-war basis. Tho above cable suggests that_ private control lias been resumed. Ministers in their ©lection speeches have announced that cue of the Government planks in their platform is State ownership of the railways.]