SEEKING A SETTLEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17458, 30 April 1920, Page 5

SEEKING A SETTLEMENT.

CONFERENCES OPENED.

MR. MASSEY MEETS MEN.

FRIENDLY DISCUSSIONS.

" SATISFACTORY PROGRESS." [BT TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Thursday. The Prime Minister and Minister for Railways, Mr. W. F. Massey, arrived from Napier to-night. A few minutes his arrival he met the representatives of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants.- Thai interview continued for about an hour. The locomotive men next had. their talk with th e Minister. This was a much shorter interview. Last of all the representatives of the first division of the society, the Railway Officers' Institute, had a; few minutes with Mr. Massey. All the interviews were over in an hour and" three-quarters. After he had met all the societies, Mr. Massey made the following statement : — "I have met the representatives of the first and second divisions and also of the locomotive men. In every case the discussion was quite frank and friendly. I cannot, go into details and I cannot say, anything definite just yet. I will say that satisfactory progress has been made, The •Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and the locomotive men are to meet me again, to-morrow.'' Mr. Massay would say nothing 'more than this. The delegates of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants cam® from the conference satisfied w&h the progress they had made. Mr. Hampton, the president of the society, said the outlook was "hopeful." It was understood that he had some proposal to make to his fellow-unionists and that he was of opinion that the result would be satisfactory. » . Mr. McArley, for the locomotive men, would say nothing whatever about the discussion, replying that it had been agreed that the Minister would make a statement. ° To the fire* division representatives tile Minister gave the assurance that member?; of the Railway Officers' Institute would not be called upon to do the work of the second division men,