The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the west Coast Times.) THURSDAY, MAY 29th, 1924. THE RAILWAY TROUBLE.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1924, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the west Coast Times.) THURSDAY, MAY 29th, 1924. THE RAILWAY TROUBLE.

TirenE are many rumbling echoes arising out of the railway trouble which suggest that the last has not been hoard of the event by any means. The point of disturbance is within the ranks of the rnilwaymen. indicating that the Executive is being slowly but surely “found out”. The conditions which were brought to light last fveek. that is the conditions upon which the final settlement was arrived at. were a surprise nil round. The Executive kept the details to themselves ns long

as they could, hut since the facts have been revealed .something approaching nonstcriuuion in the ranks of the railwaynien has hl'eii displayed. As one member of the A.S.R.S. stated to a newspaper reporter:—‘‘The conditions are practically the same as wo were forced to accept after the great maritime strike of 1890. We have been put bat k to where we were over thirty years ago

as tegards lertaiu of our pi iviicges. One of tlie conditions of settlement alter the 1890 strike, was that we acre not to affiliate with any outside organisations and it looks as if the present Government lias Inked up those conditions and forced them upon us again. The executive has blundered badly and the whole society will have to suitor for its action." It has been mentioned previously that the men had been misled bv the militant section of the Union which .appeared to be acting in consort with the political Labor element seeking to dominate the toiimry As evidence of this a railwayman in Christchurch, informed a newspaper reporter that the last conference rcsllltcd in tlie militarist section of the society obtaining the control. A\ illl the exception til the president (Mr W . Sullivan) the personnel of the executive was entirely t honged, none ol the former members securing re-election. Mr Sullivan, who was too passive Jor the other ineinhors. subsequently resigned front the execuiivc. and Mr M. Connolly v.as elected to the position. The 1000.1!i strike. was thereiLre. brought about through the activities of the most, militant executive the society had hud for many years, and had the old executive remained in office it. is considered practically certain that the strike would nol have taken place. It this he borne out. by facts to he disclosed at the subsequent enquiry, the public will take a more lenient view of the railttayinelt’s attitude. and feel that ihev have been misled pjricvioiisly by an executive with ulterior motives. The men will no doubt profit by the experience ami have the remedy in their own hands when next there is the opportunity to elect a fresh Executive. At the same time, the particular wisdom of the Government is demanding that the A.S.R.S. will disassociate itself from the Alliance of Labor will ho apparent. It was a step ns much for the safe-guarding of tlie men as fur the public interests. Tlie .affiliation being severed further intrigue cannot go on to any degree, and the men will thus he saved from their leaders who otherwise will he induced again to lake a false step in the belief that extraneous aid might come from outside quarters. The position of the public service will he the more definite because of the attitude taken up by the Government, and in the end the public and railwaynien alike will doubtless lie very grateful for tlie outcome. Although the strike was very inopportune and most inconvenient, a certain amount of good promises to he the outcome, and for that at least all conceinod mnv feel thankful.