The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1920. A PARTIAL SETTLEMENT.

Timaru Herald, Volume 170, Issue 170205, 1 May 1920, Page 8

The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, MAY 1, 1920. A PARTIAL SETTLEMENT.

As the result of conferences lield yesterday witli the Premier, leaders of tJie Amalgamated Society, of Servants have called oft' their strike.- A conference Avitli representatives of tlie locomotive men broke down , after several hours discussion without any arrangements for its resumption. Mr Massev « states _ tliat practically the same conditions were offered to this society-' as were accepted by other branches of the service, but they asked for additional conditions winch" lie could not grant without gross injustice to their fellow railwaymen and other civil servants. At first sight the strike settlement is .not "-really helped by tlio agreement with, one body of emplovers who had refused to work, since the trains will be lield up quit© efficiently if no enginemen are found to work them. Ifc is easier to reason 3 however, with a small number of strikers than with a large one,' and though the Auckland branch of the Amalgamated Society state that they will not obey the. instruction of ■ their executive to resume work, i the fact that- one branch of the { service has refused terms considered to be "good enoxigh" by their fellows, ' and even by the Transport Workers 5 Advisory | Board, may soon cause-the minority's conduct to -be viewed in a different light by "thdse others than that in which it has hitherto appeared to them.-- It is quite possible that the enginemen, who have always been the most, militant section,: have: had stronger cause for dissatisfaction with their conditions than-other branches, in view 'of the trying nature of their duties. But the Government cannot grant them jam-thing th'ey may choose to ask

because they have, chosen tliis moment to strike. Much value might be gained ■ from an independent commission, like that formed of business men which the Wellington Chamber of Commerce lias suggested, and something of that sort evidently was .included in the Prime Minister's offer. But if schedules of conditions and wages for an enormous service must' be gone tiirough "point .by point," that can' only be done after the. railways have commenced to run again, since the business naturally would take weeks. All branches are now willing to provide a service for the Prince of Wales's train, and it may seem that the Government shoiild feel 110 rekic.tance in allowing him to travel through the North Island, «ven if no trains can bring loyal subjects of the Crown to greet him. The idea that any "risk" to the Prince would be' incurred ov such an, arransrement, in I\ r ew Zealand, is ridiculous. It is nrobable, however, that the Government are embarrassed by strict rules for the transport of /.Royal..travellers which, are not made -in New Zealand, and' the journey, in such circumstances, inight.be only less melancholy to the Prince than to those who M-ou,ld be unable to see him.