RAILWAY AFFAIRS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 653, 2 November 1909, Page 5

RAILWAY AFFAIRS.

SICK BBNEriT SOCIETIES ~A largely-attonded meeting; of; the -Paekakai, rlki brancn ..of., thouNapicr-Uaranaki-ManawatU' Railway. Sick Bonefit Society wai hold oil Sun'day .to. consider ...th?,proposals !of,tho., Amalgamated Society' bf Railway.'Servants- to take' over 'tho control, of tho, yarion'i, sick ibeheflt societies'.'. Mr. J. Cain presided,'and' explained tho.' objeots of the meeting. Mr. A. Cassio (Wellington-representative, of tW society) addressed, tho' meeting,and : explained that '.tho society had. ,I>een over 28 years in -existence, and haddone good work,' fho management oxpenses wore not more than half those of.'a friendly society, and the contributions .wero'-onthe lowest.spale,' -He'-..re- ' viewed, thi . cocioty'a balanceVsheets,: and > explained to merfibers what. lx-iiefits they' were able to receive undor present system, and, froni figures quoted, ■ showed. that "the sooiety was in a strong financial: position., :Sinoe the Wellington. : meeting the. part that.' kindred.sooioti.es wero taking had .become. known, and members wo.uld bo pleased lnjar that other Moieties.-were , taking up the saine etand• as their , own: committee ,du tho r 'subject. ' . Mr, Cassie : al?o; commented oiv. oerWn, editorial remarks in a-.recant' issue. of thev-'ißailwiy- Re-, view." Ho strongly objected tJs the'', statements put forward there! and challenged the "Review" to name any society: which was not •worked on a sound basis; ~ In his/opinion tho offiom- of • tho . A.S.R.S...wished -to/strengthen their hands against the 1 members, of ,tlio newlyformed Loco -Men's; Association,-- whb ; threatened to , pull out qf, tho : AiS.R,S.I. - ; If they obtained control .of, tlio benefit societiis, liieinbers would bo compelled to . remain in th<s A.S.R.S. •

. Mr. :K. Farnsivorth (Packak'tiviki • representative) .also spoke, and moved■■ tno , following resolution; which was seconded by, Mr. David: soil and .catricd t "That this; meeting of members of tho N.-T.-M. Railway' Sick Benefit Sov oiety does not .consider, it' advisable that. tho control of tho present sick benefit , societies be handod over to tho A.S.R.S,, and has every confidence in tho management of this society. A hearty vote of thanks was. accorded Mr. Cassio.for his address.' ' '

i. THE SPLIT. IN. THE CAiiP. .(By 1 Telegraph—Presn Association.) • . Wanganui, November 1. In connection, with the dispute .botweon-the two bodios.in the seoond division of tho railway service, the local branch, of. tho A;S.R.S. passed a motion on Saturday night to , the effect that it "considered tho formation of another society uncalled for and .detrimental to the 1 welfare of - railway; men,-' 'also protesting emphatically .against fin alteration in the Arbitration Act as it affects railwayman.* , t

• The local branch of the Drivers', Firomeri's, and - Cleaners' Association ■ passed a motion strongly condemning what It .terms tllo. dog-in-the-manger resolutions passed by. the A.S.R.S., that,body not boing representative of tho'lecomotive' men. ' The association : claims that 80 to 90 per cent, of the locomotive men belong to it, and thfcy justify tho association's action to obtain separate recognition. :

Greymouthi November 1. The local branch of the A.5.8.8. passed the following motion:—"That this meeting protests against altering the clause referring io our society. "in tho Conciliation,> and - Arbitration Act, as such action would be to the detrim'ent of the society and; vailwaymenj generally." > V Dunedlh, November. 1. Tho Otago branch of tho Amalgamated Railway Servants' Society is. adverse ,to any amendment of 'tho Arbitration Act or/ any other Railway Act, in the direction; 0f... extending official recognition to any other Tailway. labour organisation than the Officers' Ihstirataiahd the Amalgamated Socioty of Railway Servants.