BRITISH RAILWAYS

Otago Witness, Issue 3518, 16 August 1921, Page 23

BRITISH RAILWAYS

QUESTION OF JOINT CONTROL. LONDON, August 9. In the House of Commons Mr X, N. Barnes (Labour) moved an amendment to the Railway Decontrol Bill, assuring railway m-en of seven seats on tire directorate of each group of companies. He said that joint control of indusfcrv would do more than anything else to lessen disputes. The present proposal would give the workers an inside knowledge and a keen feeling of responsibility. Mr J. H. Thomas (National He .-rotary of the Railwayraeu’s Union), in opposing the amendment, said that amity between the companies and the men would nor be achieved by imposing coalitions on the companies which they had previously rejected. If the companies wel o; ed Mr Barnes’s innovation too workmen would jump at it In the scheme which had been agreed to and which was already working there was every opportunity for dealing with all disputes. If the v/ovkers were mistaken in agreeins to that scheme they wei •:■ ic , on; dole. Lord Robert Cecil supported the amendment. Sir Eric (deader (Minister of Transport), replying, agreed with the principle underlying the proposal, blit pointed out that no railway hoard would accept .t, believing the time was not yet ripe for such a step. dir F. To Mil>hnay (Co.l'd and Major ■J. W. Hills < '--.I 1 .), both of whom are directors, said that ail the companies regarded the present working scheme as satisfactory, and they intended to work it am oth.lv. Mr Barnes said he welcomed ii-e.-e declarations, and withdrew lbs amendment. hir J. I<\ Flannery (Co.U.) opposed the third reading. He said lie regretted that no tiro vision had been made for the election of workmen ns directors, of whom he had had 20 years’ satisfacini v experience. I’he IT:i: was read a third time. RAILWAYMEN'S WA! ii’S. LONDON, A-.nriist 9. The unions concerned conn rred with the rail way managers and a ccept ed reductions in the railway workshops, skilled artisans' wages, amounting to 6s weekly, coinciding with the second cut under the engineers’ agreement. One hundred thousand men are effected.