Feb. 4.
The surprise. move of the come panies with regard to the railway men's demands has astonished the unions, who had anticipated a stiff fight when their proposals ultimate ly reached the National Wages Board, but they were unprepared for the companies' counter-move, which was @ proposal to reduce wages by 6s. a week in rural areas and 4s, in meeting of the mana gers and representatives of the unions was preliminary to a detail ed examination of the two sets of proposals, The companies now estimate that the demands of the unions would effect a saving in the wages bill of nearly £8,000,000 annually. The counterclaim' in effect would cancel the 1920 agreement, which guarantee the railway men a minimum of 100 per cent. over their wages in No immedi crisis is anticipated, as the companies, move is regarded tactical, with a view to its con sideration by the Wages Board.—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.