POSITION OF A.B.R.S.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17460, 3 May 1920, Page 5

POSITION OF A.B.R.S.

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT, SELECTING AN ARBITRATOR, MATTER FOR NEGOTIATION. [bt telegraph.—press association.] CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. In the couree of an interview this afternoon Mr. R. Hampton, president of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, was asked whether the Prime Minister was right in his statement that the agreement entered into between tho A.S.R.S. and Mr. Massey ended the strike but not the grievances. "Oh yes," said Mr. Hampton, "That is quite true, although at the same time, of course, we hope that the agreement made for the resumption of work will ultimately end the grievances of railwaymen. But if it does not, the position . is safeguarded to this extent, that the men have a right to declare war again. The trouble was brought about in our case by the position which th 9 Prime Minister took up in bis reply to the" executive council, in which he practically aid that the general manager should have the last word on what lie termed technical matters affecting corvditions in the service. We have -always been prepared to negotiate with the general manager, and try to come to terms, and if we could come to terms, that, 1 think, would i* the ideal way of settling our disputes. But we can never accept the position that general managers must in each and every instance be accepted as the final authority without the rignt ot appeal to anyone else. The agreement which we have made gets over tnat position, and gives us the right to have toe general manager's decisions reviewed by an independent tribunal. "The arbitrator will not be solely selected by the Prime Minister, as be originally proposed in his last communication to us, but his selection will be a matter for negotiation between Mr. 3i*>sey and the executive. We «*;«*« the hearing of the case when both agree that we have confidence ,tt ™ , /£ . bitmtor, which will, we hope, b>w » JJJ days. It may be suggested that it will ' be a difficult matter to arrange, but per » ate'" Mr. Hampton was < asked _, , "Such a matter is. not .specifically men- , tioned, and there is no need for it to be mentioned," replied Mr. Hampton; " after we have come to an agreement be- ' fore the suggested tribunal the matter of-when the improved wages will operate from will then be discussed, arid >:<the board's recommendation ■ will ■be given _- ( effect to." _„' -~vS^;----,"..