BRITISH RAILWAYS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 15 August 1928, Page 10

BRITISH RAILWAYS

RECENT CUT IN WAGES,

ANNUAL (SAVING £3,000,000

LONDON, Aug. 1

A total Of £3,000,000 ,a year is the voluntary contribution of the railwaymen toward saving the .British railways by accepting 6d in the £1 cut in wages. This is the estimate of Air J. H. Thomas, AI.P., general secretary of the National Union of Ruilwayinen. On all sides it is agreed that it is a momentous triumph of co-operation over conflict, ensuring more employment, instead of the enforced dismissal of thousands of men, particularly in the railway workshops. Since January the gross revenue of the Alidland • group of railway companies has declined £2,100,000, (that of the North-Eastern Company by £1,500,000, 'the Great Western 'Company by £500,000, and the Southern Company by £280,000. The companies attribute this loss of traffic to depression in the ceal and steel industries, and also to competition from 'cheaper passenger transport on the roads. The heads of the four main railway groups pay warm tributes to the men’s courage and statesmanlike attitude, Which, according to Sir Felix Polo, general manager of the Great .Western Railway, demonstrates the true spirit of co-operation that now exists between master and workman in Britain.

Air Thomas says the agreement -will probably live as the nio'st important that Was been signed in British industrial history. “Our men,” he said, “have set an example to the world which, I hope, Will be repeated.”