RAILWAYMEN'S WAGE CLAIMS. Memo. by Minister of War Transport.

labour, the Railways might be allowed to negotiate on the general line of meeting the case of the lowest paid workers, but without conceding anything by way of increase of minimum base rates. If this be accepted in principle I see no objection to negotiation on the lines which the Railways suggest, subject to the following conditions:- (a) There should be no retrospective application of the advance. (b) The Railways should be told that while some consequential adjustments may be necessary they must be kept to a minimum and that there must be no question of preserving pre-war relativity in the remuneration of the lowest and of higher paid workers respectively.