DECISION TO STRIKE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18690, 22 April 1924, Page 8

DECISION TO STRIKE.

NEGOTIATIONS END. MEN CHANGE TACTICS. A CRISIS PRECIPITATED. TERMS OF THE ULTIMATUM. REJECTION BY CABINET. (bi lILEGBAPH.— conaEsroxDENT.] WELLINGTON, Monday. The threatened railway strike has come unexpectedly and with dramatic suddenness. The morning newspapers to-day announced that a very critical stage in the crisis had been reached and passed on Saturday, and that a settlement seemed more probable now-than at any time since Ihe commencement of the negotiations.

During the latter stages of the negotiations Messrs. Connelly and Mack, the representatives of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, seemed very anxious ■to find a -way out, and suggested the appointment of another wages hoard. They approached the Minister for Railways, Hon. J. G. Coates, with fresh proposals to submit to the Cabinet. The Cabinet agreed to appoint another board, -with a Supreme Court Judge as chairman, to go into the whole question. The issue;! were again discussed at a meeting between members of the Cabinet and Messrs. Connelly and Mack. It is understood that the delegates seemed indisposed to agree to the appointment of a Supreme Conn Judge as chairman, but they left the Cabinet room on the understanding that they would meet the Minister again this morning and give their reply. Ultimatum Not Accepted.

On Saturday Mr. Mack, secretary of the A.S.R.S., informed the press that he had nothing to report, but added that he had every hope that a satisfactory basis of negotiations would be arrived at by mid-day on Monday. Apparently, however, the men's executive changed their rninda and their tactics. The proposals from the Cabinet were considered by the executive of the A.S.R.S.. and today Mr. Connelly met the Minister for Railway* and had a brief discussion with him. It was intimated to the Government that the executive of the A.S.R.S. -would not accept the proposed board, and ■demanded an increase of wages, failing the granting of which they said there ■would be » strike at midnight.

The Cabinet met to consider this new phase of the situation and decided that in view of the failure of the A.S.R.S. t© avail therottelve* of an impartial tribunal, it eoald not comply, with such a demand, Thus, when there seemed every praspect of further negotiations, and an iimieable soitlemonfc of the dinpute, the crisis has been precipitated and the strike will commence at 12 o'clock tonight. Trains Going to Destinations. Trains that are en route to a destination at midnight will complete their journey, Trains left Wellington for Auckland at 12.45 p.m., 2 p.m., 7.10 p.m., and 7.40 p.m. to-day. The men as well as the passengers want to get back to their homes

It will no doubt be the endeavour of the Railway Department to get a skeleton service going as soon as possible, but some time must elapse before this can be accomplished, as any emergency service must be compatible with Reasonable safety. Motor services will be able to cope to a certain extent with passengers and .mails. One motor service which does a big North Island passenger traffic in ordinary times has already organised a very complete service in view of d )X)V - Bible strike. ' It is stated that they have arranged for every possible car procurable i V aid than. .In Canterbury it is exited' that the Progress League will do -/good work as. it did in the last raili "" 'a ',