RAILWAY CRISIS ENDED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19236, 27 January 1926, Page 11

RAILWAY CRISIS ENDED.

MEN ACCEPT THE AWARD. DEMANDS NOT CONCEDED. STRIKE NARROWLY AVERTED. . j By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Reuter. LONDOIN. Jan. 25. At a meeting of the railwaymeu's delegates it was decided by a narro%v majority not to call a strike, but to accept the award of the Wages Board. Tho negotiations between representatives of the companies and the National Union of Railwaymen were held at Euston. The men demanded that the companies should agree not to operate the clause in the award providing that new entrants after February 1 should be paid only base rates without a cost-of-living bonus. They also demanded that the existing standard base rates which are generally 100 per cent, above pre-war level should be declared the irreducible minimum. The companies declined to concede the points raised by the union. They said they had accepted the findings of the Wages Board, which the union had repudiated for the second time after its own representatives had signed the report. The companies intimated that if the union persisted in this attitude they would bo obliged to seriously consider their attitude toward the Wages Board, the machinery of which was being rendered futile and farcical.

At' tho conclusion of the negotiations the companies submitted a memorandum which the delegate conference of railwaymen considered. The result was the vote in favour of accepting the award. Several branches of the union had previously adopted resolutions in favour of a national strike if the union's demands were refused.

PEACE NOW ASSURED. TRIUMPH FOR MR. THOMAS. DECISIVE VOTE ON ISSUE. (Received 12.55 a.m.) Reuter. LONDON, Jan. 25. The railwaymen's delegates discussed the companies' memorandum and an hour later Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P., of the National Union of Railwaymen, stated that the resolution to reject the Wages Board's award and to declare a strike on Friday was lost by 36 votes to 41. It is noteworthy that this straight-out issue represents the final decision. It may be regarded as a triumph for Mr. Thomas, who has consistently striven to uphold the prestige of the Wages Board. Peace is therefore assured on the railways after a week-end of anxiety.