LABOUR MATTERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 464, 1 July 1909, Page 4

LABOUR MATTERS.

UNIONIST v. UNIONIST.

Hitherto the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants has been the only recognised body which the Minister of Railways has had to deal with. It appears now, however, that a determined attempt is being made to establish a separate union for enginemen and firemen. The promoters have petitioned the Minister of Railways for recognition, and also waited on him personally. In a letter to the president of the A.S.R.S., the Minister of Railways (the Hon. J. A. Millar) says: “I have, as Minister of Railways, so far refused to recognise the proposed association upon the grounds- that one association of railway servants only can be recognised to deal with all matters affecting railway employees, and I have informed the deputation which waited upon me in Christchurch recently of this position, and I stated that, unless it was shown to me that a very large majority, being not less than idoo financial members, had joined the proposed union, I would not consider the petition in any way. . . . I can only inform you, as I stated to the deputation in Christchurch, that it would be a mistake for the -society to be weakened by any section breaking away and forming a separate union. Up to the present time the interests of railway men have been well looked after by the society, and I think I am safe in saying that all branches of the service have received material benefits, and if this is so, I think all railway men will admit that it would be better to leave well alone.” The Railway Review, the official organ of the A.S.R.S., urges “those who realise the danger” to fight the new movement “with every legitimate weapon, and fight it now.”