FIVE REPORTS

Feilding Star, Volume 10, Issue 3932, 16 January 1933, Page 5

FIVE REPORTS

NATIONAL WAfrEK BOARD BRITISH RAILWAYS UNPRECEDENTED LE.ViVLOCK fAutt. an»l N Z. Cablei London, January 14. A,n nfnpreecdentrd <h'adha*k has been caused by the issue of five separate reports by oif the. National Wages Board for Railrways. Hitherto the hoard has always managed to agree on certain principal findings. This time only the railways' own munincets accept the companies’ full claim for wages reductions totalling £*s million. The union delegates are unainiinous against them, and representatives of railway users are divided, two: for a.nd two against the claim. The chairman Sir Harold Morris, separately reports in favour ef aroduotian only to the extent of onefifth of the railways’ demand. This is acceptable neither to the companies* nor unions. None of the findings are binding. Th*» newspapers take a seriou§ view of Ibe situation. Some suggest that the end of the Iwcird as a method of conciliation may result. .While financial and most of tho Conservative organs express. the opinion that the companies’ case has boesn proved, the Daily Exptreps takes the view that wages cuts will only increase .trade depression by’ reducing the peoples’ spending power. L holds- that the companies and unions should agree he* tho chair-, man’s recommendatinins.