RAILWAY CRISIS OVER

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12355, 27 January 1926, Page 6

RAILWAY CRISIS OVER

UNION ACCEPTS WAGE AWARD DECISION BY NARROW MAJORITY COMPANIES STAND FIRM .V By Telegraph.—Pres* Assn.'-Copyright Renter's Telegram. LONDON, January 25. Negotiations between the represen. tativea of the railway companies and the National Union of Railwaymen opened at Euston in regard to the union’s demand that the companies agree not to operate the clause m the award of the National Wages Board providing that new entrants after February let be paid only the basic rates without a cost-of-living bonus. The union also demands that the existing standard basic rates, which are generally 100 per cent, above prewar figures, be declared the irreducible minimum. Several branches of the union have already passed resolutions in favour of a national strike if the union’s demands are refused. At the conclusion of negotiations the companies submitted a memorandum which the delegate conference of railwaymen will consider. (Received January 26, 5.5 p.m.) The railway companies declined to conceda the points raised by the railwayman's nmon, and pointed out that they had accepted the finding of the Wages Board, which the union had repudiated a second time after the unions’ representatives had signed the report. The companies intimated that if the union persisted in this attitude, they would be obliged seriously to consider their attitude towards the Wages Board machinery, which waa being rendered futile and farcical. The railwaymen’s delegates decided by a narrow majority not to call a strike but to accept the award of the Wages Beard. TRIUMPH FOR MR THOMAS Reuter’s Telegram. (Received January 26, 11.40 p.m.) LONDON, January 25. The railwaymen’s delegates dicussed the companies’ memorandum for an hour, after which Mr J. H. Thomas made a statement. A resolution to refuse the Wages Board award and declare a strike on Friday was lost by 35 votes to 41. It is- noteworthy that this straight issne represents the final decision, and may bo regarded as a triumph for Mr Thomas, who has consistently striven to uphold the prestige of the Wages Board. Peace is therefore assured in the railways, after a week-end of anxiety.