BRITISH RAILWAYS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20644, 16 February 1929, Page 19

BRITISH RAILWAYS.

DISASTROUS YEAR. COMPETITION Off THE RO ATi&; (From Our; Own Correspondent.") «ui ■ . LONDON, January 5. From the paint ol view of the railway service, the . year has hesn disastrous, f states Mr J, H. Thomas, M,P, t ffi a New Year’s message-to-the-Rattway Review, the organ of-the National Union Of Railwaymen, ■ .

There have been -severalserious railway accidents, resulting, in loss of life, which is deplored by ;all ranks of the service; and there has been such a fall in traffic 'receipts as seriously to threaten; the economic position, of the railway companies, and which; unfortunately, is only a reflection of. the general industrial position of the country. ' “It is my earnest hope,that we have now touched bottom, and that the year 1929 will see the turn of the tide towards national prosperity. The railway, companies hare had the double misfortune.of' having to suffer from the general trade depression and from the unfair competition of road transport as well, but with the help of the N.U.R., they; have succeeded in obtaining road powers from Parliament, and thus in future will not be so much at the--mercy of such unfair competition. SPIRIT Off CO-OPERATION. “When the railway companies con-fronted-.the railway men during the. past year .with the serious economic position 1 : of the undertaking; “we ■ did not Hesitate - to rise to the occasion,and'-seriously to consider how best the -problem' could'be • solved.' . : "; • “This incident Illustrated what'l-havp long urged, that , the only real , and true relationship that should exist between the. employers and employees- is .one : where.both sides talk freely to each other instead of at each other, ‘ - “Net as hope:that the yfehtr,; 1929"witt - " bring better timca.land . that " th<i'. same., spirit demonstrated-in thc last agreement :; will continue to .-prevail,” - ■- r ■■ -’. '

Mr C. T. Crampl; industrial secretary * of the tt.U.R., writes; :!.:. “ During 1929 I am hoping torsie'a." great advance in the" direction of aug-' menting- rail services ' by ; railway-owned ' road motor transport.” - I believe, ’ that during the next: few days our industry* will.be transformed from purely taif.to a. great rail and, road-transport' system;’.* We cannot stem the tidc of invemion, nor is it desirable that ..we should, evert" if we were able; : - “Our task must he to see to it that human conditions, ]do .hot; ■spffer- becati’seof invention, or fptnilhi controlled. We ; mpst IcontrSl. them .m , the interest of the.C.workcßtwho- are en-1: gaged in transport.”- -v -'■■■