THE RAILWAY. DISPUTE IN VICTORIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7939, 2 August 1887, Page 4

THE RAILWAY. DISPUTE IN VICTORIA.

(Fbom Oub Own Ooheespondent.)

Melbourne, July 2G. Mr Speight, tho chairman of the Railway Commissioners, has smoothed over the diffi-

culty between Mr Alison Smith and the

enginedrivers. The resort to extremes in the shape of a strike, which was widely talked of, has been averted. The men waited.

in deputation on the Railway Commissioners. Mr Alison Smith was present, and the pres.s were admitted. The tact and good judgment shown by Mr Speight during the interview were in striking contrast to the want of those qualities shown by Mr Smith. Mr Speight; blamed the press publications for the heated point to which whatjhe called the recrimina, tory tournament had been carried. He ignored the strong talk and indignant resolut tions of the second meeting, and kept the men to their original grievances as the sub? ject matter of the interview. He acted as peacemaker throughout, though occasionally he had a good deal of trouble. The men were especially angry at Mr Smith on account of the statements he had made about the motives of the president of their association (Mr M'Dougall). Mr Smith explained that those statements were made to a reporter, but ho had not intended

them to be published. He did not actually know the statements to be true. Mr Speight was inclined to treat this explanation asa withdrawal, and the following conversation which occurred gives a fair idea of the tone and character of the whole interview ;—

Mr Speight: The statement is withdrawn Mr M'Dougall: I have not heard Mr Smith say it was withdrawn.

Mr Smith: I expressed regret at having stated it to the reporter. Mr M'Dougnil: That is not a withdrawal. Mr Smith: I told you I believed it, and I cannot withdraw that which I believe.

Mr Speight; That is very silly. How can you believe a thing you cannot prove? Mr Smith replied that he was attacked at a public meeting of drivers, over which Mr M'Dougall presided, and that his action was thereat severely criticised, aud he considered that he had a perfect right to place any construction upon the presence of that driver in the chair at that meeting. Mr Griffin remarked that it was intended that the meeting should have been a private one.

Mr Speight stated that he spoke the feelings of his colleagues when he said that statements which were incapable of proof should be withdrawn.

Mr Smith: If that is the wish of the commissioners, I will withdraw the statement. I have no personal feeling in the matter at all. Mr M'Dougall: lam satisfied. Mr Smith made an unwarrantable and brutal attack upon me, and he admits that he had no proof of it. Mr Speight: It is withdrawn. So far as we are concerned we are not going to carry it fuither.

The end of the whole thing was that Mr Speight asked the men, " Have we threshed this matter out ?" And " Have we buried the hatchet ?" To both of which questions the deputation gave affirmative replies. The deputation will, of course, have to hand in! a report to their association, when ■it■ id expected that the matter will drop.' On orifi point Mr Speight, granted tho demand of tho men. They are in future, when in default, to have the reports sent to them for their explanation before punishment is meted out.