RAILWAY STRIKE

Timaru Herald, Volume 170, Issue 170205, 1 May 1920, Page 9

RAILWAY STRIKE

A PARTIAL SETTLEMENT O AGREEMENT WITH AMALGAMATED SOCIETY. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, April 30. Mr Massey had a conference with lepresentaitiyes of th 6 Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants t-im morning. The conference lasted less tii&h half an hour. Subsequently Mr Massey stated that the dispute: with the Amalgamated Society ot 1-Jnihvay 'Servants was settled and "83 far as they were concerned the'strike ' would' be called, off. Tiie agreement airfived'- at' by" • the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants was -considered and endorsed by the Transport Workers' Advisory Board.-

LOCOMOTIVE BRANCH

A FUTILE CONFERENCE

_ A conference took place between Mr Massey and the Executive of tiio locomotive men at 2.45 p.iii. There were liopos that a settlement, would, be aruved at without great difficulty and rumours were telegraphed out co the effect that'it had actually c.ome to pass, but at 5 p.m. the conference had not come to an agreement and the men withdrew. This is the iJosition at present.'

TWO REPORTS ON THE- CONEERENCE.

THE STRIKERS' STATEMENT.

"The Executive of the E.F.C.A, is film in its attitude," said the s-ecre-tary, Mr McArley, to a /'Dominion.'': reporter to-night-.' "We-havo made claims that we consider to V)e fair and' just. AVe consider that, failing a settlement on the lines we have suggested, the alternative is for the Government' to go through. the; schedule of ■wages . and conditions, point by point, and arrive at a settlement.. "\Ve are anxious to bring the dispute, to a speedy, settlement, and with that end 111, view we were prepared to acceptthe Conciliation Commission, proposed by Mr, Massey. ]f we are to go th ro ugh -\vages and conditions item by item it will take a. considerable time-, and prolong the dispute. "AVe met the Prime Minister to-day in what we consider to be a, fair way. We gave in to lrim on a good many points, or at least we considered we did. "When wo asked him to concede one point lie would not do it.. That is w'heire we Stand xo-night." . Mr MeArley added that the conference; between the.Prime Minister, and the :Exccutire of . the j}.F.€\A ' had broke,n up completely, and no proposal had : yet been.. mado for its rnsnmption. Hp could not tell what the future developments would be.

Mil MA.SSEVS STATE J L (j".N T T

The. Prime Minister replied to-night to the statement that the locomotive men had-given way on several: points and that lie had refused to give way on the one concession oi him. 1 '-'All. I can say is . that -the points they are. supposed to have been conceded were of no value at .all. ."Wh-ati really happened was that, with the assistance of Sir Francis Bell, I simply straightened up their language .--and ideas, and put them in a. workable form in wJiich shape 1 was prepared to accept them. J. offered' to Mr McArley and .liiis friends practically'- the same conditions-which' the other branches of the service had. 1 accepted. Ho asked for other. concessions which I found it impossible to grant. The granting ,of these concessions to the "locomotive men would have been grossly unfair to tiie other railwaymen. and "to other branches of the public service.■'

OFFICERS' INSTITUTE. A NEW COMPLAINT. The following resolution was passed by a meeting of the local' branch, "That-this meeting of members of the Wellington branch, of tlio Railway Officers': Institute, affirms : that it . lias .absolutely no confidence in 1 the present management and staff administration. We call upon the Government to take steps whereby a more up-to-dato staff shall be,assured which, while protecting the interests of the Dominion, shall also advance and conserve the individual rights of the - railway - employees. .Further we are strongly of opinion that had this been done in the past the prosent strike would not have eventuated."

HELPING- WITH FUNDS. GTIPJSTC-HUiRCH, April 30. I At a largely attended, meeting or employees,; at. the ' Addington 'Railway Workshops to-da.y the opinion was expressed that the North island should not bo allowed-to bear the loss of pay through the strike, and it was resolved tliat' the- various railway.- organisations in the South Island shonild-.be levied upon with the object of paying the dependents of the men a portion of "the pay lost. This decision, was. arrived at .-unanimously, and the Executive was invited, to ;conimuhioate with-'all Sout 1 -' Island 'oranches with th 0 view to collecting the funds necessary. •

A CHARGE AND A DENIAL. Allegations lia.ve been: made by strikers that telegraph messages have been tampered with or at least, undue delay occurred in delivery. The Department ; scouts the idea, pointing out -that such interference would require the connivance of many public servants.

RESOLUTIONS FROM OTAGO. DUNEDIN, April 30. The Seamen's Union at a general •meeting on Thursday unanimously resolved to "endorse the action of the railway employees in attempting, " to. bring about a more humane system in their working conditions, and a further increase in their altogether insufficient wage; ' We extend to them the hand of comradeship in their fight and fervently. hope that their fight will meet with all the success it is deserving of." The Executive of the Otago Labour Council to-day forwarded a resolution to the secretaries of the A.S.R.S. and E. and F.C.A., congratulating the railway -workers upon their . determination, to. bring .to an eiid. "the; scandalous proerastmatioon. of the Government, in, ■■'dealing with-- their claims for adequate remuneration and better conditions." .

WATERSTDERS

AUCKLAND, April 30. A meeting of 1200 wftterside-rs passed a resolution assuring tho railway men of their whole-hearted support. ; Tho Tramway. Union passed a resolution approving of the railway strike.. The Auckland men of the Railway Officers' Institute have decided to take a. ballot on the question or a sympathy strike, and meantime to handle alt urgent or perishable goods consigned before the strike.

AUCKLAND A.9.8.5., STAY OUT. AUCKLAND, April 30. The Auckland branch of, ths A.S.R.S. has decided not to resume work until the strike of tha E'.D.F.'C. is settled. About 1000 metii were present, and the notice to _ resume work was received at the meeting.. .

FARMERS' UNION SUGGESTION. / FEILDING. April 30. The Feilding Fanners' Union, at an urgent meeting, passed a resolution regretting that the railwaymen struck during the Prince s visit, and suggesting to Mr Massey a conference simultaneously with the men returning to work. .'

EFFECTS OF STRIKE. ROTORUA, April SO. The Board of Trade is forbidding increase of prices of essential commodi#' ties, including benzine, in Rotorua, over those ruling on Monday last. MiHall, Resident Officer; has been ..appointed . the Board's representative to control distribution and prices, and the Chamber of Commerce is requesed to co-operate. The public is warned to exercise care in the use of commodities. It has been, decided, in the event of a general strike, to introduce rationing by tickets.

MESSAGE RECEIVED LOCALLY. Yesterday afternoon, Mr J. P. Hughson, secretary to tlie local branch of the A.S.R.S., received the following telegram signet! by. the president (Mr It. Hampton), and the general secretary (Mr M. J. Mack) "Strike declared off. Settlement arrived at. Agreement, endorsed by Transport Advisory Board. Men are reporting for duty at once. Full particulars following."