INDUSTRIAL STRIFE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 288, 24 November 1911, Page 5

INDUSTRIAL STRIFE.

BRITISH RAILWAY DISPUTE. f I’Ril -S ASSOCI ATION—COPYRIGHT. ] London. Nov. 23. In tin- House of Commons. Mr. J. R. Macdonald, moving in favour of a railway conference, urged the necessity of avoiding a crisis in December when tin- (uiverninent's intervention would mean taking sides. Mr. Asquith said that tiie Government would not accept the resolution unless the reflection on the companies was omitted. He thought, however, that once any suggestion of censure was eliminated and i lie men ac.-epfed the report as a basis of future relations with the companies. the latter might consistently with the traditions of their industrial life, anil without impairing the directors’ self-respect, agree to a further strictly limited conference as the best means of carrying out the report. In that sense only the Government would invite a conference. He concluded by declaring that th- companies’ liberality in increasing wages showed their patriotic spirit and redounded to their I credit. Mr. Bonar Law replied that although personally he would be glad if the Government had obtained the directors’ assent to reopening negotiations. its attempt to put pressure upon the companies through the House <if Uonimons treated the comrianies unfairly. He added that the unions’ repudiation of the Uonimission was serious enough ; but tlie Government’s taking sides would be far more serious. Ultimately after further criticism from the Opposition side and st early object ions from the Labour benches, Mr. Lloyd George’s amendment giving effect to Mr. Asquith's amendment was carried by 16“ votes io It'S. THE MINORITY. (Received 21, 11.10 a.m.) London. Nov. 23. The Nationalists abstained from voting on the Railway division. The minority were mostly Labour and Liberal voles.