RAILWAY AFFAIRS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1924, Page 1

RAILWAY AFFAIRS.

MR CONNELLY IN REPLYWELLINGTON, May 26. Mr Connelly. president, of the A.S.R.S.. in connection with the noconiideiice motion reported to have been carried at Franktun, said he addressed that brunch on Sunday, and no such resolution was carried or even moved. There was no sigi. of dissension in the ranks of the men in the Auckland district.

Referring to the report of dissension in the Christchurch district, he replied that it was significant that this was coming from two or three branches onIv. It would appear that certain disappointed individuals were trying to make capital out ol the set-hack received by their mates as the result ol llie strike, and were advertising, for vhe benefit of the workers’ opponents, the weakness, whether imaginary or otherwise, in the Society and the Alliance of Labour.

“T have addressed three of .the largest- branches in the Auckland distliet during the past week,” he said, “and in each ease the men keenly appreciated the work of the executive during the strike, and expressed themselves to this effect. They also realised their responsibility t" the working-class movement. ,itnd have refrained from playing into the hands of their opponents. Asked if he had any comments to make on the statement of Mr. McArley. secretary of the E.F.C.A.. Mr Connelly said he was not responsible for the interpretation placed on his remarks when he was interviewing the E.K.C.A. executive. No report of the proceedings was made, and Mr McAiley, whose interview was published, was not even j,resent-. Under the cir<•ll nisiatiros lu* \voul<! leave it to memtiers of the service to judge as to the correct ness or otherwise ol the statements.

DEPARTMENT’S ACTION RESENTED. WELLINGTON, May 27. In view of the fact that the members of the Second Division of the Railway have been put back to the -IShours week, there appears to he some doubt as to whether the men’s ease will go before a tribunal consisting ol the Arbitration Court, with one representative from each side. It was reported from Auckland a f-w days ago that the President of the A.s.R.S.. Mr M. Connolly, had -luted that the Society would accept the* Arbitration Court, with one representative from each side. a- a tribunal to adjudicate on Die grifViiiMMrs nml vlnim^. ! ni|tiiries made to-day. however, showed that in certain A.S.U.S. quaraction of the Department in i.-in-tit fling th- Itvhour week before 1.1,e Tribunal has deliberated on the merits of tlw Department’s ca.-c for an increase in the hours is resented.

|1- was stated that the latest move ol the authorities had altered the whole situation so far as Lite altitude of the Society towards any tribunal other than Parliament is eoneerned. In anv ease, despite the reported statement of Mr lounolly in .Auckland, I lie A.S. It.S', has not yet olliciallv informed the Minister of Railway- that lhe Arbitration Court has been accepted as a Tribunal.

DFNKDJN MEN’S POSITION. DUN EDI S. May 26. Ti,i. i ailway*men hav» lakeu the pisi non philosophically, and are not m.lined. like some of their Christchurch confreres, even to discuss the qile.-tion of leaving the A.S.R.S. as a protest ugaiost the “failure” of the National Executive in the matter. One prominent member of the local branch of the \ S B.S. slated that the Dunedin men were not at all perturbed at the pn-i----,i,.„ hut they thought that it would I:,, a great mistake to do anything to weaken their union by leaving. He ventured to predict that this was a “try on” as far as the Government and' the employees were eoneerned and that an ell'ort would he made to make the forty-eight hour week apply to ah WnrlvtM'S.