§ Brigadier MackesonI beg leave to present a Petition from the British Railway Officers' Guild. This Guild, representing some 4,000 officers employed by the main line railway companies, the London Passenger Transport Board and other undertakings, asks for certain Amendments to be made in the Transport Bill in order to give protection to the interests of the officers concerned. The Guild is concerned that adequate protection should be given in respect of conditions of the employment, pensions and salaries of the servants and officers of the companies, of the London Passenger Transport Board, and of the other undertakings involved. The Petition is signed by the Master and the Executive Committee on behalf of the 4,000 highly skilled and experienced individuals of the Guild, and concludes with these words:
Wherefore your Petitioners, humbly pray that your Honourable House will make all such Amendments in the Bill as may be necessary to give to the stall and servants all the rights and privileges contained in Parts VI and VII of the London Transport Passenger Board Act and in the Third Schedule of the Railway Com- 2 panies Act, 1921, to ensure that any questions or disputes as to remuneration, compensation and conditions of service may be determined by a negotiating body or referred to arbitration by an independent tribunal, instead of being finally disposed of by the Minister under the powers conferred on him by the Bill, and your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.