LABOUR MATTERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 72, 26 March 1919, Page 5

LABOUR MATTERS

■x-» ... I—l- ■ BRITISH RAILWAYS APPEAL FOR MODERATION. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association) LONDON', March 24. Mr Thomas is (jptumstio with regard to settling differences between tho railway men’s unions, lie has arrived at an. understanding with the 'Government, but not a settlement. He appeals to railwaymea to refrain from ill-advised action at the instance of Jjren _ whoso only conception of securing justice is brute force. If the .same spirit pre- • vails for the next few days, he is confident of an amicable settlement. FRENCH RAILWAYMEN A STRIKE THREATENED. i (Roe. March 26, 8.45 a.m.) : PARIS, March 25. The Funuh Kailvvaymen’s Federation has threatened a general strike on Ist May unless the railways are nationalised and tho right hour day enforced, with a minimum salary of £2 weakly. STATEMENTS) BY MR BONAR LAAV i (Ilec. Mar. 26; 12.50 p.m.) | _ LONDON, March 23. An official report of 3 T e«terday's oon- > ference between the “Triple Alliance’’ railway union and tho Government shows that Mr Thomas replied in the * affirmative to Mr Bonar Law’s inquiry ; as to whether all three members of the \ allianbe would strike 'in the event of even an unjustified strike by one mem her Replying to Mr Thomas, Mr Bonar Law emphasised that the Government intended that extra pay should be given for real night work by railwaymen. In regard ‘n the hundred thousand rail way shopmen, who mostly belong t,o T!Ks engineers’ societies and not the railwaymeh’s unions, -Mr Bonar Law stated that the 'Government could not negotiate with Mr Thomas in regard thereto, unless the railway unions could come to an arrangement by which Mt. Thomas would represent all the shopmen. He also stated that the Government had undertaken that the wages of railwaymen should not be reduced until the" end of the year, when the question could be reopened ' Mr. Bonar Law emphasised that the country’s financial position was serious, and that the railways were at present costing the taxpayers' over half the national expenditure before the war. The offer the Government was now , making was the utmost it could do. j PROGRESS OP NEGOTIATIONS. I (Ilec. Mar. 26. 12.50 p.m.) | LONDON, March 24. I The Press Bureau ,states that repre- ! serftativos of the Government, the railway executive committee, and the rail- , way unions to-day reviewed the whole i concessions offered by the Govern- ' ment, and reached an agreement in regard to Che interpretation thereof, If the railwaymen’s unions the terms, 7 negotiations on. remaining items oi the programme will bo continued immediately, the Government undertaking that every, effort will he ! made to secure a fair and speedy settlement thereof.