RAILWAYS DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17571, 9 September 1920, Page 4

RAILWAYS DISPUTE.

THE LOCOMOTIVE BRANCH. -'i NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUED, NEABING A SETTLEMENT.' [BY TKLEGaAPH. SPECIAL BEFORTES-] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The railway dispute has nearly reached a complete settlement. It will be remembered that when the men returned to work after the stoppage in April, the Government appointed committees to make recommendations regarding wages and conditions of employment for the three groups of raflwaymen—the clerical staff, the railway staff, the locomotive staff. The Railway Officers' Institute and the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants acepted the recommendations of the committees, bnt the locomotive branch did not accept the draft agrement prepared by the ommittee which considered its case. A ballot was taken by the E.F.0.A., and it is known, although no official announcement has been made, that the decision of the members of the locomotive branch was against the acceptance of the agreement in its original form.

Delegates representing the branches of the E.F.C.A. throughout the Dominion, met recently in Wellington, and they decided to make certain representations to the railway authorities. Since then discussion has been proceeding, and ail the points in dispute nave been settled, with the exception of the hours question. The committee recommended a 48-hours' week. The locomotive men are asking for a 44hours' week. They will meet the Minister for Railways (Mr. Massey) shortly, in order to make representations on this point.