AUCKLAND RAILWAYMEN'S SUPPORT FOR WATERSIDERS

Chronicle (Levin), 16 January 1947, Page 8

AUCKLAND RAILWAYMEN'S SUPPORT FOR WATERSIDERS

AUCKLAND, Jan. 15. The chairmaii of the Otahuhu branch of the Amalgamated Society oi Railway Servants (Mr. L. Reid) stated that the report oi Ihe two meetings oi railwaymen did not aecurateJ,y descrjbe those meetings. The first was a mass meeting addressed by Mr. A. Drennan, national viee-president oi the Waterside Wovkers' Lnion1, and Mr. J. Mifehell, a mamber of the national conncil, and was lield at the Otahuhu workshops on Monday. The second was a meeting ot the Otahuhu branch of the A.S.R.S. and was lield at Newmarket 011 Monday night. Mr. Reid. said he was chairman of bo th meetings. At the mass meeting Mr. Drennan gavo a brief oufline of the issnos iiivolved in the w.-iterfront dispute. Ile had only 20 miimtes at his disposal, and at the conclusion of his address he answered a quesfion. Tliis referred folin appeal made by i\fr. II. ILarnes and Mr. T. Ilill to the railwaymen to return to vvork during the raihvaj' strike of Eebruary 1945. Mr. Drennan said Mr. Reid eorreetly I'ointed ont that Mosses. Barnes and Ilill were then speaking not 011 behalf of the Waterside Workers' Union, bnt 011 belialf of and with Ihe fuil authorify of Ihe New Zealand Federation of LabouV. AI r. Drennan also said that if Ihe watersiders were given the same guarantees as the railway workers were given then tlioy too would resunie nornml vvork. M r. Reid also said Mr. Drennan was- given a good reeept ion and not, as had been repoi-ted. a eool oue. The resolution carried by ihe meeting, said Mr. Reid, was that each of the two unions, the A.S.R.S. and R.T.A. fRailway Tradesnien's Association) discuss at their own meetings tlieir attitude towards the dispute. Mr. Reid said that in accordanee with the 1 resolution «)f the mass meefing Ihe dispute was disoussed the saihe night at the ordinary mouthly meeting of the Otahuhu branch of the A.S.R.S. and not. as had been reported, y.11 executive meeting of the branch. A resolution was unanimoiisly adopted support ing the attitude of the New Zealand Transport Workers' Federation- and asking the A.S.R.S. executive council to take the matter up sympathetim ally. M r. Reid added that the attitude of the New Zealand Transport Workers' Federation was oue of support for the waterside workers' claims. and it had offered its services to the waterside workers to bring about a settlement. I