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QUEENSLAND RAILWAYS.
BALLOT FAVORS STRIKE.
LENGTHY CONFERENCE IN
CAMERA.
BRISBANE. — For two clays and a half
delegates representing the Locomotive
Engine Drivers, Firemen and Cleaners' As-
t sociatioo and the Queensland Railway-
Union have been conferring in camera to
decide what action they should take, as a
result of the members of tiheir organisa
tions voting in favor of a strike, in order
to better the conditions and wages ob
tained under the Jl'Naughton railway
award. The conference concluded on
Thursday night, when Mr. H. C. Valen
tine, secretary, intimated that the dele
gates had decided that no information
whatever should be supplied to the press.
Mr. Valontine, when questioned, stated
that the probability of a further session of
tlie conference depended upon future cir
cumstances. .
.Mr. T.' Moronoy, general secretary of
the Queensland Railway Union (generally
regarded as b"ing the most militant in the
State), one of the delegates to the confer
ence, stated that the result of the ballot
taken by his association had been a 4 to 1
majority for a strike, whereas that of the
Engine Drivers, Firemen and Cleaners' As
sociation was G to 1 in favor of stopping
work. There was no truth in the sugges
tion that all thought of a strike had been
abandoned. The Queensland Railway
Union had not called "time." Whilst there
was "no towel in their corner to throw
in," the conference (had arrived at a deci
sion on some matters, whilst others were
held in abeyance to he considered at a
later date. There would be no negotiations
with the Commissioner in the meantime.
He declined to commit himself when asked
as to the probability of a strike in a few
days' time.
Request for Increases Refused.
BRISBANE. — The Commissioner of Rail
ways was approached on Thursday by a
combined deputation of representatives of
the Queensland Railway Union and Engine
Drivers and Firemen and Cleaners' Asso
ciation, which presented the unions' de
mands. These inchide that wages of
drivers, which are now on u sliding scafe
of from 16/ to 20/8 per day, shall be in
creased to a sliding scale of from 23/ to
28/ per day: that 25 per cent, extra lie
paid for work between 10 p.m. and G a.m.;
and that a guarantee of a full week's work
be given.
The Commissioner, Mr. J. W. Davidson,
stated that tlie men's wages had been in
creased by the Arbitration Court in Oc
tober, the award taking effect from 1st
.Tuly. Tlio demands now put forward liad
licen refused by the Arbitration Court, aiul
lie could not therefore grant the unions'
requests.
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