RAILWAYMEN'S DEMANDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18049, 24 September 1920, Page 6

RAILWAYMEN'S DEMANDS

THE LOCOMOTIVE BRANCH.

(From dun Own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON) September 23. A desire to know the latest details of the negotiations between the locomotive branch of the railway service was evinced in the House of Representatives this afternoon by Mr T. IC. rfidey (Dunedin South), who asked the Prime Mjnister to make a statement setting forth tho position as it stood at the present time. Mr Massey replied: I have no statement to make in regard to the body referred +o as the E.F.C.A.. It is quite true that they are not quite satisfied with what has taken place recently. Mr Massey added that in his opinion it would lielp mattors if the newspapers would refrain from inserting paragraphs with scare headings, and making people think that things wore seriously wrong, when such wa s not the case. Mr E. J. Howard (Christchurch South): Your statement was a scare heading when you told the people to be ready for any emergency. Mr Massey: I meant to be ready for a further shortage of coal. We are not getting enough coal in this country. He d'-d not think anything serious was contemplated by the E.F.C.A., continued Mr Massey. I-Io believed that the great body of the men were sensible enough to avoid further trouble.