STILL DIVIDED

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 965, 4 November 1910, Page 2

STILL DIVIDED

TROUBLE AMONG RAILWAYM.EN. VIEWS OF LEGISLATOES. The question of granting official recognition to tho Engine-Drivers', Firemen'B and Cleano-ps' Association was before the House of Bepresentatives yesterday afternoon, but finality was not reached. The Railways Committee reported favourably on the petitions for recognition of tho now' union as a separate organisation" froin those of other branche6 of tho railway 6orvico. . . Mr. Wright (Wellington South) moved as an amendment that.the report'be referred back to the committee for further consideration. It was his view that the whole of tho railway employees should belong to one organisation. Mr. Greenslade (Waikato), who seconded the amendment, held that all that was wanted was a little conciliation in order to heal the breach in the ranks of the railway employees. "Breach Won't Be Healed." Mr. Eussell (Avon) said that the general manager of railways had himself said that 'he saw , no objection to the new society receiving recognition. Members of tho new society had toid the committee that there was no likelihood of the breach being healed. He understood also that the Minister was not unfavourable to the new society receiving official recognition. Mr. M'La-ren (Wellington East) declared that there were manv good reasons why the amendment should be adopted. The locomotive men themselves had expressed a desire for a federation—for unity. The two societies should be allowed to settle their own differences. The Premier said that he believed it would be. better for tho report to go back 1 to the committee. If tho members of the new society would not go back, tho sooner the general society realised it the better. For himself,'ho would sooner see only one organisation. His experience of the A.S.E.S. was that they had never attempted to do anything unfair. If the report wero remitted back to the. committee,, the heads of both societies could again be, examined with a view to seeing what was the exact position: Not a Clear Division. Mr. Poolo (Auckland West) said he thought h«. ought to voto for the amendment. , ' Mr. Massey said he regretted to hear tho opinions given, expression to by the Prime Minister. His speech was a lead to, Ms- party to have the matter referred back to the committee. The matter had already been fully threshed out. Representatives of either one or both of the societies had interviewed practically every member of the House. Tlien again, dozens of witnesses had been examined by tho committee. If he thought that there was tho slightest chanco o' the breach being healed lie would himself favour the, amendment. It was dear to him, however, that, the two societies would not pull together. Mr. Brown (Napier) said it was felt that it would be a general benefit if the new society w«Te granted' official recognition. He understood that when tho official recognition was given the Locomotive Society would federate with tho general organisation. Mr. Field (Otaki) said •he was afraid that the breaches , which had occurred wero not likely to be healed: How the Breach Has Widened. The Hon. J. A. Millar said that the original .petition contained- 700 names; to-day, a year laieT,.it contained over 1100.. Mr. Fisher: The breach is wider. Mr. Millar (continuing) said he could tell Mr. M'Laren that the effect , of not giving the locomotive men official recognition, would bo' to deny 1100 men the right to put their; claims before the. Government. The' Government had got it in black and white that, the locomotive branch would' not' accept representation through tho general society. Ho himself had fought hard to. prevent a split Tho breach was now becoming so wide that it iras becoming injurious to the service. Tho locomotive men could make work harder or lighter: for , men "iri .'the , other branches. The feeling was so bitter that the: general society had asked him. ,to. settle the matter at once. Ho did not think Parliament, should: request its .employees to join' one union or the other: For himself, he thought.tho locomotive men wero making a mistake. If official recognition were given -there would be a. workable arrangement between the two societies in force within a fortnight.. In fact, the committee wore informed that, that would be the case. He might mention that the feeling .was so strong that if the general sooietjvput. a box up in an engine 6hetl it was ; smashed.' In' the interests of everybody, the sooner the locomotive branch was officially . recognised tho better. .

Report not to be Shelved. Mr. Fisher ' (Wellington Central) thought that an attempt was being made to shelve the whole matter. , Hon. J. A. Millar: , I will guarantoo that it is not shelved. (Hear, hear.) Upon the suggestion of several members, Mr. Wright altered his amendment to.read that the committee should report within a week. ■ ■ . , Mr. Herdtnan (Wellington North) said that Parliament should make the interests of the State its first consideration. If the House came to tl;e conclusion that the separation of tho two branches would be inimical- to the. service, generally , it 'should not agree to it. He thought that it would be better if members were- given a chance of reading the evidence before discussing it. ■ ■ • After turther discussion, tho amendment was agreed to, -and it was later decided that the evidence. should bo printed. ■■.'.•■ - ' ..■ ■ Tho Committee's Report. In reporting favourably on the petitions (as mentioned above), the committee expressed tho opinion that the Amalgamated Society had represented the enginedrivers, firemen, and cleaners equally as well as the other sections of the service, and that due prominence had always been given to their requirements when tho Department' had been approached by the delegates of the society. Nevertheless, tho committeo considered that there was no possibility of the two organisations coming to an agreement, and as it was in the best interests of the service that these two sections should work in harmony, they recommended the petition to the Government for favourable consideration. ■ ' -.<