A Step Forward

Grey River Argus, 19 January 1922, Page 5

A Step Forward

TOWARDS INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACY. BRITISH RAILWAY CONTROL. BIG REFORM COMING. WORKERS TO HAVE VOICE. British Railway Companies have agreed to place wages, hours, working and general conditions under control of Councils on which the workers are to be represented equally, with the employers, as from April 3rd. The influenza epidemic has spread in Britain to such a degree that many thousands are down with it in various industrial centres, and schools and cinema, shows are being closed. [A. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received January 18, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 17. The “Daily News" states:—The general managers of the various railway companies, after many months of negotiations, have ratified a draft agreement providing for the creation by each railway of five sectional councils, representing five groups into which all the railway employees are to be divided. These councils will be composed of equal numbeis of representatives of the railway companies and the trade unions, and they will be empowered to deal with the wages, hours, and conditions of labour and discipline, and also the promotion of co-operation ni increasing the business, promoting efficiency and economy, and also with suggestions regarding the operating of the railways. The agreement conies into force on April 3, and will mark the greatest advance yet made on a big scale towards a form of industrial organisation in which the workers will have a definite voice in the fixing of the conditions of labour.

INFLUENZA SCOURGE. ALARMING SPREAD IN BRITAIN. MANY THOUSANDS DOWN. [A. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received January 18.. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, January 17. The influenza outbreak is spreading. Many Scottish miners are among the victims of the epidemic. There are thousands of school children in Fifeshire suffering from influenza, which also is ravaging East Lancashire, where the cotton weavers are suffering. Twenty per cent, of the boot operatives in Northampton are affected. Many of the schools have been closed in Lancashire, Durham, and Northumberland. The Town Councillors are ordering that no children be admitted to the cinema shows in some districts. Councils order also that all the picture halls must be regularly disinfected. The British submarines of the Atlantic Fleet are unable to go for their annual exercises off the Spanish coast owing to the serious influenza attack.