THE RAILWAY STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17458, 30 April 1920, Page 4

THE RAILWAY STRIKE.

It will be a relief to the public to read that the Prime Minister is now in conference with representatives of the railway 'strikers and that the position is hopeful. Such a, conference cannot reasonably have any other outcome than a prompt settlement of the terms on. which the North Island services can be immediately restored. Both the Second Division organisations ceased work as a protest against delays in the examination of their grievances, and while resort to such a violent expression of their impatience is inexcusable, their action has had the effect of focussing public attention upon the conditions of their employment and compelling Mr. Massey to undertake an immediate personal investigation. It would be foolish for the railwaymen to exploit this situation, as the engineers' secretary has suggested they might do, by insisting upon the framing of a new agreement before they resume work. No more need be attempted by the conference at present than the definition of the method and the scope of the inquiry necessary to determine the conditions of employment in the service, and of reasonable safei guards against any injurious consequences to the men for their hasty action. By suddenly paralysing the : whole transport system of the North ! Island, the railwaymen have inflicted a heavy blow upon the community, but the public, remembering ■the faithful service they have given without interruption for 30 years, will not wis to penalise them if they art-, now prepared to minimise the injurious consequences by agreeing to a reasonable formula for the | resumption of work. Strictly speaking they have sacrificed their right to I superannuation, but if the strike can j be terminated as swiftly as it was begun Mr. Massey need not hesitate over an assurance that no withdrawal of benefits will result. The public has no desire for victims. Its wish is to see the railways running under conditions that are in every way fair and equitable to the employees. But unless the community is to be put to grievous and prolonged inconvenience the normal services must be resumed before these conditions are finally settled. The Prime Minister cannot be expected to go further than an undertaking to set up a tribunal, acceptable to the service, for the investigation of its claims. Having done that, he should insist that no further step will be taken until the strike is declared off. If the railwaymen recognise the reasonableness of this view, the trains should be running again within a few hours.