THE BRITISH RAILWAYS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1716, 6 January 1920, Page 7

THE BRITISH RAILWAYS.

MEN REJECT THE GOVERNMENT’S

OFFER.

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON, Jan. 4. An official statement on the railwayman's wages confirms yesterday’s cables, that the Brandi Delegates’ Union will meet on Wednesday to consider terms. ■MV Thomas, addressing a mass meet of railwaymen at Birmingham, recommended the acceptance of the terms. Although not all they wanted, nor all they intended ultimately' to got, th(> reduction in the cost of Jiving was more urgent than an increase in wages. Mass meetings of East London, Rhondda Valley, Northampton, Carlisle and Newcastle railwaymen unanimously rejected the Government’s offer, apparently on the ground that it was not as generous as that granted to the locomotive men. who received wages based on the highest rate paid in each grade, instead of the wage based on the average grade. The effect of the Government’s proposal is that thousands of men will got 10s a week immediate advance,- with an additional 5s war bonus. This will cost the Government five millions annually. A significant feature is that a scheme has been evolved under which the cost of living will be a determining factor in the. permanent wage rates. Wien the settlement is confirmed, £300,000 in back pay will be distributed among the railwaymen.