RAILWAYMEN’S DIFFICULTIES.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 4 June 1919, Page 3

RAILWAYMEN’S DIFFICULTIES.

A CONFERENCE AGREED TO,

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, June 3. Further correspondence of a lengthy nature has passed between the ActingPrinio Minister and the Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, and Cleaners’ Association in reference to the association’s demands. After reviewing the circumstances with regal’d to previous deputations, Sir James Allen concludes his letter witli tin following (statement: “With regard to the. suggestion that a round-table conference should be arranged to further discuss the proposals, I have to state that the Hon. W. H. Herries and the General Manager of Railways would be quite willing to meet your council on June 9, the questions for discussion being matters that affect the Railway Department, which is under tho control of Mr. Herries. He will, of course, as is usual iu such cases, preside at the meeting. A little reflection will, I have no doubt, convince you that another Minister of the Crown could not permit himself to bo placed in a false position by presiding over a meeting held for the purpose of reviewing tho decision of his colleague concerning that colleague’s acb-uu's;ra-tion of his own department. With reference to a 44-hour week, I would point out that this applies strictly to the various workshops, and not to running sections of maintenance, locomotive, or traffic branches.’’ In reply to this letter, a communication has been sent to the Acting-Prime Minister by tbe Locomotive Engineers, Firemen and Cleaners’ Ass relation. in which they state that their oxccivCve council would, be pleased to accept arrangements made to meet tho Minister of Railways, and express hope that, for the sake of industrial peace, some good will eventuate. The executive council regrets that tho Government could rot agree to allow a Minister who had c\perience jn railway aduiinistratiyi utki who gave general satlsfction whde Minister of Railways to act as chairman. It is contended that tSir James Allen’s statement regarding the 44hour week, is not In keeping with the Minister’s promise that if he gave anything to loco.-men he could not resist it to others in the Railway Service.