The annual conference of the National Union of Railwaymen (NUR), held yesterday in Weymouth, was marked by tensions over press access and a sharply critical speech by the union president. The meeting saw a contentious resolution passed that restricted reporting on public proceedings to trade union newspapers only, prompting the withdrawal of nearly forty press representatives.

The motion to exclude non–trade union press was introduced early in the conference by Mr. J. B. Figgins of Glasgow and supported by Mr. Wadge of Newport. The resolution passed narrowly by 40 votes to 35 despite strong objections from the Right Hon. J. H. Thomas, M.P. Thomas cautioned against what he described as a petty and counterproductive measure, noting that only a minority of trade union members actually purchased union newspapers. He argued that many journalists covering the event were themselves committed trade unionists regardless of their publication’s affiliations. In response to the decision, the assembled press withdrew from the hall in protest. Union officials reportedly expressed unease about the outcome and indicated steps would be taken to reconsider the exclusion.

The conference was also notable for a forceful address delivered by the NUR president, Mr. W. Dobbie, who criticized both the government and those who worked during last year’s General Strike. Dobbie characterized Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin as a “dangerous hypocrite” and derided strikebreakers, referring to them as “scabs in Oxford bags and plus fours,” dismissing their service during the strike as opportunistic and belated. He reaffirmed solidarity with the miners and asserted that the strike had been a necessary response to a government he accused of disregarding public sentiment and collaborating with employers to quash organized labor.

Dobbie described the challenges faced by rail workers following the strike’s collapse, highlighting the difficult terms imposed by employers eager to punish the unions. He explained that while union strength had previously encouraged amicable negotiations with railway companies, post-strike relations had deteriorated into arrogance from management. The railway companies, contending with financial losses from the coal dispute, sought to enforce a harsh settlement, compelling the union to prioritize the reinstatement of members over protecting their earnings.

The future role of Mr. J. H. Thomas within the NUR is expected to be discussed privately at the conference, with Thomas himself indicating that he would know his position by the following day. The episode underscores ongoing tensions within the union amid the broader context of labor unrest in Britain following the General Strike.