THE RAILWAYMEN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18115, 4 June 1919, Page 4

THE RAILWAYMEN.

ROUND-TABLE CONFERENCE. TO BE HELD ON JUNE 9. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 3. Further correspondence of a lengthy nature has passed between tho ActingPrime Minister and the Locomotive Engine Drivers’, Firemen and Cleaners’ Association in reference to the association’s demands. Al ter . reviewing the circumstances, Sir J antes Alien concludes ins letter witn the loliowmg statement:—” With regal'd to tne suggestion tfiat a round-table conierence snouid be arranged, to lurther discuss proposals, I, have to state that tne Don W. H. Herries and the general manager of railways would be quite willing to meet your council on June 9, tlie questions for discussion being matters tfiat affect the Railway Department, which is under the control of Mr Herries, who ivouid, of course, as is usual in such cases, preside at the meeting. A little reflection will, 1 have no doubt, convince you thatanother Minister of the Crown could not permit himself to be placed in a false position by presiding over a meeting held for the purpose of reviewing the decision of a colleague concerning that colleague's administration of his own Department. With reference to the fcyty-four-liour week, I would point out that this applies strictly to the various workshops and not to the running* sections of the maintenance locomotive or traffic branches.”

In reply to this letter, a communication has been sent to the ActingPrime Minister in which the association states that its Executive Council would be pleased to accept 'arrangements made to meet the Minister of Railways, and a hope is expressed that for the sake of industrial peace some good will eventuate- The Executive Council regrets that the Government could not agree to allow a Minister to act as chairman who had experience in railway administration ana who had given general satisfaction while acting as Minister of Railways. It is contended that Sir James Allen’s statement regarding the forty-four-hour week is not in keening with the Minister's promise that if he gave anything to the locomotive men he could not. resist it to others in the railway servico.