RAILWAY DISPUTE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17352, 17 May 1924, Page 6

RAILWAY DISPUTE.

INVESTIGATION OF CLAIMS. (Special, to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, May 16. It is likely tuat within a lew days an announcement will be made regarding the method of investigating the rail way men’s claims, in terms of the arrangement made that work must first oo resumed. Another important development is imminent. The Railway Department, it is reported, will shortly make up weekly duty sheets of employees, so as to provide for a week’s work of 48 hours instead of 44 hours, formerly the basis of the week’s work. The adoption by the Department of a 48-hour week would be carrying out its representation to the AN ages-Board that if the men were prepared to work another four hours Weekly, they would receive an average of 7s 2d more in wages. Tne railwaymen’s representatives themsetves criticised the department for failing to work the men the full 44 hours weekly, and pointed 'io the fact that under a former agreement, it \va-» entitled to work them an additional four hours over the .41 Probably this is the principle on wilich the department proposes to operate, as it is hardly likely, in face oi the early investigation of working conditions, that it would introduce -t 48-hour week, as it is generally understood in outride industries.