§ Mr. JAMES THOMASasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that discontent exists amongst the men employed on the Great Eastern, Great Western, Caledonian, North British, and 1233W other railway companies in consequence of the interpretation of awards issued by the arbitrators in the recent arbitrations on these respective companies, and the refusal of the companies to allow the central boards of the respective companies to meet to consider these awards; and whether he will take such steps as will be necessary to bring about meetings of these boards to consider these interpretations?
Mr. BUXTONI am aware that on certain railways questions have arisen as to the interpretation of awards of arbitrators. In several cases these questions have, I understand, been settled by joint reference to the arbitrator who gave the award. While I have no authority to lay down the proper procedure in such cases, I must say that the above course seems to me a very reasonable one to adopt.