RAILWAY STRIKE AFTERMATH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2739, 29 May 1924, Page 3

RAILWAY STRIKE AFTERMATH.

Christchurch. Maf 26. In connection with the circulation of a manifesto in which members of the A.S.R.S. resigned from the society. ostensibly with the object of forming a separate body, an official of the A.S.R.S. stated last night that he had been reliably informed Ilia! the signatures to the manifesto ha,! been lost. “I have beard on the very best authority," he said, “that •the manifesto was given to a certaiiTman for his signature and that the sheet containing the signatures mysteriously disappeared and has not been found since.” He added: “That, of course, was quite likely to happen as the movement was not taken seriously by anyone. After all, the manifesto only stated that (he signatures had resigned from the society. There was nothing or. it as far as I am aware to indicate that those resigning intended to form a new union.”

Wellington, May 26. Asked to-night if he had any comments to make on the statement of Mr MeArley, secretary of the E.F.C.A., Mr Connelly said he was not responsible for the interpretation placed on his remarks when lie was interviewing the E.F.C.A. executive. No “report of the proceedings was taken. Air MeArley, whose interview was published, was not even present. Under the circumstances, he would leave it to the members of the service to judge as to (lie correctness or otherwise of the statements.

ADDINGTON PROTESTS AGAINST EXTENDED WEEK.

SPECIAL CONFERENCE ASKED

Cbrischurcb,.May 27.

From to-day the Addington workshops men’s hours are 7.30 to noon and 12.30 to 4.45 and on Saturdays till noon.

Over 500 were present at a special mealing of the Addington workshops branch of the A.S.R.S. held nr the Trades Hall last evening. The meeting which was very lively, was addressed by Mr J. O’Connor, a member of the executive council, and All' R. Hampton, a former president. A message was received from Christchurch Labour members offering support to the branch in the light against the re-introduction of the forty-eight hour week. It was decided to tliauk the members for their offer and to send a protest against the forty-eight hour week to the labour organisations throughout the country. The following resolutions were curried unanimously: “That the executive council be called on to call a special conference to review and inquire into all matters connected with the strike; that in order to avoid the possibility of a conference not being called by the executive council this branch demands that a special conference be called by the general secretary as provided for in rule sixteen, clause two, that the branch committee be instructed to immediately take the ballot necessary under such rule.”

THE TRIBUNAL.

NOT YET ACCEPTED BY A.S.R.S.

Weilingon, May 27.

Despite the reported statement of Mr Connolly, in Auckland, the A.S. R.S. has not yet officially informed the Minister of Railways that the Arbiration Court has been accepted as the tribunal in the railway dispute.

TILORNDON BRANCH A.S.R.S.

Wellington, Last Bight,

The Thorndon branch of the A.iS. B.fcS. a few weeks ago passed a resolution of coniidence in the executive. LasL Buuday, it resolved that tiie executive be called on to explain i cceni iiappemngs or resign.

liie secretary states that the reason for me discrepancy is that members wan to know what happened while tiie strike was being called oh, as since then many tilings have Happened, including the reversion to Urn -15 hours' week and the withdrawal of the society from the Alliance of Labour. Members were unaware of these things when the rust resolution was adopted. Mr McArley, secretary of the iii.B.C.A. states in reply to Mr Connolly, secretary of the A. 8.8.8. that nis organisation took the initiative ihree Limes during the war to gain ilie bonus, although in the late Mr Bcddon's tune, it had stood down to allow men on the basic wage to get an increase. Tt struck in XbflO and obLained J/- a day increase, with improved conditions for every member m the service of the Bovernment. If Mr Connolly had not been so keen as a 'tyro leader,” and had asked the H.i’.C.A. for assistance at mo beginning of the negotiations ' with Lite Uovernment for basic wage me men would have had a better bargain made for them than by Mr wonnoiiy.