AMALGAMATED SOCIETY OF RAILWAY SERVANTS.

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 36, 1 December 1894, Page 9

AMALGAMATED SOCIETY OF RAILWAY SERVANTS.

Millar’s Private Hotel was on Wednesday evening the scene of a very pleasant gathering in the shape of a social, given by the members of the Invercargill branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. About 80 ladies and gentlemen sat down to the three tastefully arranged tables in the dining room, and thoroughly enjoyed the good cheer provided. Grace having been said, and the usual loyal toasts duly honoured,

Mr Walker, who presided, proposed +he healths of the guests of the evening—Mr J. W. Kelly, M.H.R., and Mr Gr. B. Patterson, late president and secretary respectively of the Society. Addressing Mr Kelly, the chairman spoke in high terms of the many services he had rendered, and concluded by presenting him with the following address : —To J. W. Kelly, Esq., M.H.R. : Sir, —We, the undersigned, on behalf of the members of the Invercargill branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants beg to express regret in having to accept your resignation as our President, and we embrace this opportunity of requesting you to accept this address as a small token of the esteem and appreciation in which you have been held during your Presidency. We are not unmindful of the time and attention you have gratuitously devoted to our cause nor your services to the working classes in general. We sincerely hope you will long fill the position you now hold and he blessed with lengthened health and strength to labour for the advancement of your adopted country. —The address, which was enclosed in a massive frame, was designed and illuminated by Mr W. E. Gladstone (of Invercargill) and his artistic handiwork was greatly and deservedly admired. The chairman also presented Mr Pateison with a handsome silvermounted ink-stand and handsome silver pencil case, and in doing so remarked that too much could scarcely be said of the recipient’s good work as secretary. Mr Kelly, in acknowledrng the toast and presentation, expressed pleasure at the advance made by the Society in being reconciled to the Commissioners. There was no need on that occasion to go into the history of how the Society became, as it were, separated from them at the start. His connection with the Society had been a real pleasure to him for various reasons —among them being the opportunity it afforded him of gaining an insight into their grievances and what they considered their rights. At present he considered the prospects of railway employes very bright, believing as he did that the real desire of the Commissioners was, as far as possible, to remedy whatever grievances were found to exist. He noticed that Mr Ronayne had been appointed General Manager, and while he had no wish to introduce anything of a political nature, it would not be out of place to say that there was no one in New Zealand more desirous than Mr Ronayne to see all-round justice done to the railway men. Some people had objected to the lines on which the adjustment of the Society with the Commissioners had been effected; but personally he saw nothing to grumble at,

holding it to be quite right that the Society should he composed wholly and solely of railway servants, the more especially as they would have an Act of Parliament in force in about a month under which any cause of dispute would, if necessary, be referred to a board. So long as the service existed there would doubtless be grievances, but he would ask all employes, whether Unionists or nonUnionists, to try, aboAm all things, to be reasonable, and not to expect too much. As to their very handsome gift, he could scarcely say enough—suffice it to say that he would prize it as long as he lived. Mr Paterson also replied, and in returning thanks referred to the pleasant relations that had existed between himself and the Society. Mr Kelly gave “ The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants,” which, he explained, owed its existence to a threatened insurance scheme. This many of them considered very objectionable, and the steps taken resulted in the baffling of the then Commissioners on this point. The speaker next dealt with various incidents in the career of the society, and complimented the Executive on the manner in which they had carried out their duties under what were sometimes trying ciicumstances. Mr Robb, as one of the oldest members of the Invercargill Branch, bore testimony, in replying to the toast, to the energy with which Mr Kelly had interested himself in the affairs of the Society, and in the course of some further remarks glanced at some effects of the strike in New Zealand a few years ago, and expressed pleasure at the fact that the membership of the Society was increasing.

Mr Thomas (secretary of the local branch) said that the mottoes of the Society were three in number —1, Observe ;2, Reflect ; 3, Speak. The Society, so far as the local branch was concerned, had always tried, with the help of the late President and Secretary, to act up to these mottoes. The Executive of the Society deserved the congratulations of the members for their efforts —their successful efforts —to bring about a settlement with the Commissioners. Some no doubt thought that the Executive were rather slow, but from what he had learned at the last Conference they had to act with great judgment, tact, and caution to bring about the present position of things. Rashness and impetuosity would only have caused further delay, and it now remained for them as a Society to resolve that moderation and commonsense should rule. Mr Thomas next referred to the death benefit insurance scheme established in connection with the Society, remarking that he considered it one of the best in existence. In connection with it, members simply paid one shilling a month. During the last two years the Executive had paid to the relatives of deceased members the sum of £972. The general funds of the branches were in a good condition. The last quarterly balance-sheet showed that the local branch had £26 to its credit, and the Executive had £946 4s to its credit independent of branch funds. In conclusion, he thought their thanks were due to Mr Kelly for getting a clause inserted in the Railway Act giving employes a week’s holidays every year —it was a boon railway men would never forget. (Applause). “ Government Railways,'' the next toast, was given by Mr Thomas, who remarked that he had always had to work hard enough on them (laughter) and was acknowledged by Messrs C. Crutch (Permanent Way), .1. Brass (Loco.), and W. Everett (Traffic.) Mr Paterson proposed “ The Trades and Labour Council,” and Mr T. Crawley, in responding, expressed the opinion that moderation should be inculcated in all societies —labour unions included.

Mr Kelly also replied, and mentioned incidentally that whereas at the time when the great strike occurred the Labour Union in Invercargill numbered 800 good financial members, the number had now dwindled

down to very few. He had stated at the time that it would take four of five years to recover from the results of the strike, but they had exercised economy and had not resigned the hope of increasing their numbers. Trades unionism in the colonies was carried on much as it was 20 or 30 years ago, members paying into what was known as a “ fighting fund but personally he was convinced that until such unions were remodelled and placed more on the basis of friendly, societies they would never get working men to jointhem in numbers. He had succeeded in getting a week’s holiday for railway employes, but was unable to say whether that was to be in addition to the three days now granted or not —he had not asked that it should be. An attempt had been made in theHouse to get him to move that the employes should get three weeks or a. month like the officials, but he declined to fall into the trap. If he had done so the proposal would either not have become law or if it had the general public would have protested against it. He was sure the employes were satisfied with his proposal. (Hear, hear.) “ The Visitors,” given by Mr P. Dunn, was responded to by Mr Hannigan (Dunedin) and Mr McKenzie (Loco. Foreman, Invercargill ) The last-named expressed pleasure at the: fact that the 4 Society was recognised by the heads of the service. It wasessential to the good working of any department that the employes and officers were in unison with each otherHe was sure that however well th& men had done their duty in the past,they would do still better in th& future, and so prove their appreciation of the action of the Commissioners. As to Mr Ronayne, he was surehe would endeavour to mete out justice to all in the service. He was a thoroughly practical man—a gentleman in whom they could have every confidence, and all would join in wishing him success- in his new position,, which he would assume at the New Year. The remaining toasts were —“ The Ladies,” given by Mr Martin and replied to by Messrs Atkinson and Nisbet; “ The Press,” proposed by Mr Everett, and acknowledged by the representative of the Southern Cross; and the “ Host and Hostess,” given by Mr Kelly, and responded to by Mr Millar. The company was strong in harmony, as the following list will prove : —Reading, Mrs Millar ; concertina, solos, Mr Dunn (whose “ Village Bells of Bingiey ” delighted all);, recitation, Mr Nisbet; songs, Messrs Thomas, McKie, Everett, Smith, Hazelmore, Connor, Crutch, John J. Atkinson, and R. Ferguson ; and step dance, Mr Hannigan. When it is added that encores were frequent, it will not be surprising to learn that it was 11.20 p.m. before a vote of thanks to all concerned in the enjoyment of the evening (including Miss Black, the accompanist) was passed on the motion of Mr Martin. Auld Lang Syne was then sung, and thus ended a very pleasant gathering;