Railway Men's Reunion.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 53, 7 March 1904, Page 2

Railway Men's Reunion.

On Saturday ovetiing the New Plymouth branch of thu Amalgamated Society of Kailway Servants met for their, annual re-uniou in the' Masonic Ilall in The function took the form of a smoke concert, and there, was a good attendance of mombers, visiting rail way-men, and . of those gentlemen who arc on terms of intimate acquaintance with railway work owing to their constant attendance ut the local depot on business bent. Hia Worship the Mayor, Mr K. Cock, occupied tho chair, and Messrs \V. T. .Jennings, M.U.H., and Stephenson, retired loco' foreman, had scats at the ollicial table. Owing lo the accident that morning in Mr TO. M. .Smith, M.U.U., that gentleman was unfortunately not present, imd pressure of business prevented the attendance of Mr O'Loughlin, the statiomnaster. Apologies were received from Messrs 10. M. Smith, M.11.1i., O'Loughlin, and Edwards, the general secretary for the colony. When all hud been seat id his Worship opened the proceedings by calling upon the gathering to honour ihe toast of his Majesty the King and Queen Alexandra, a toast that was loyally honoured to the strains of the Natioual Anthem.

The chairman then proponed the "Amalgamated Society of Kail way Servants." In the course of his remarks he referred to tke promptness with which goods were now delivered from the goods-shed, in m-arked contrast to the condition of things two or throe years ago, when very oitwi a week or ten days elapsed between the arrival of the merchandise at the station and its despatch to the consignors. ]j t . thought that railwuy-mon hail a great dual to put up with, but always managed to do their duty promptly and politely. Ihe present New Zealand service was indeed a credit to the members of the various departments, and the efliciency of these and the general facilities and improvements in management and plant were the work of that capable Minister, Sir Joseph | Ward, to whom the travelling and ; commercial public owed a great deal. Mr McCabe, chairman of the local branch, responded. The society had now a very large membership in ev- ! cry part of the colony, and it was | pleasing to review its growth since 188(5, when the society was organised by Mr Edwards, who still retained the position of general secretary. For many years there was uphill | work, and many members had had |to suffer suspension or othor penal- | ties for the simple reason that they | darud to avow their principles, and jto continue membership. Thoso days I had now passed, and the society was recognised und respected by the men at the head of affairs, Tho organisation had beon responsible for gryat improvements iu (he lot of railway servants, aud he hoped that its suecess would long continue.

Mr tiilberl proposed "I'll* fta|.way Department." He was, he said, quite competent lo speuk on thflSubjoct, us during the pant six years he had visited 11 iw ijpods-shyd almost daily, aud had very often (ibused and been abused by (he railway-men. lie enthe chairman'ti remarks as to utynovemenl in the delivery of goods ami remarked on fellowship which existed between railway employees ki ever,v braucli of tko service.

Air Simnionde, plntt'oriu foreman, briefly replied, thanking t ty society for his invitation to be present, aud on behalf of the Ollicers' Institute, promised to return tlte compliment. Mr l'eppeiill ulso responded in similar terms, statftig that it gave him great pleasure to know that the public recognised the efforts of tko department lo facilitate business, and incidentally referred to the remarkable increuse in tratllc during the past year or two.

Mr Stephenson proposed the health of his Worship the Mayor, stating his conviction that without municipal government the country would be in a bad way, more especially in regard to sanitation.

Mr Cock suitably replied. 'The Stationmastes at New Flymouth" was proposed by Mr Simuionds, who said thut Mr Day had had to work here under very great disadvantages owing to the building of a new station anil the extension of the yards during his tflrm ol ojlice. At the same time there was not a more popular stationmaster than llr O'Lotghlin, who had made considerable improvements in manv portions of the service.

The toast whs drunk hi-artily, with musical honours.

Jiii. 1 ]\linisU*r lor Railways" was proposed l iy Mr 1. Morrison, who briefly referred to the vast improvement in tin; colony's rolling stock and the railway service generally since Sir Joseph had taken over the portfolio of Railways.

"The General Mutineer" was proposed by Mr JVpperell, who paid a gracoful tribute to (hut linu administrative officer.

Mr Feppeivll proposed "The Parliament of New Zealand," stating, inter alia, that the present Parliament anil the present administration were the best fur the railway-men ♦at the colony had ever hud. Mr W. Jennings, M.H.H., responded in happy terms, giving the present. Parliament the credit of being the worker*' friend.

In desponding to the toa«t of the Maintenance Itfpn'tuiunt " Mr SttfNvart said that the railway service needed no white-washing and 110 •pocial pleading from him, as all the men did their work thoroughly and faithfully—none more so than New Plymouth. Referring y> the amalgamated society of swvattts, he said tlia men had sot out to Iwhto their riuwa respected. They had succeeded in that, and had einwi the respect of ail the officers ut tho head of the wwviue. They should erer remember tha action of those imaa who had reached down and elevated tlio railway servants in every ' wav. He hoped the uten would keep on, recoguit*us the great truth or the' motto that ' union is strength." and that they would remember tlie legislates who sad given tlicm tlirii- iudopondeuce mid made them all able to call their souls thiTir own.

Mr Jennings proposed the health of Mr K. M. Smith, referring to his pluck and consistency.

Ihe Traffic and Loco' Departments was proposed hy Mr Stephenson. and responded to by Messrs Gardiner and Maunders.

Other toasts were-'The Secretary, th / " Tllfi Ladies," "Tin f'l CfcS ' ~r ho Diauist,'' and Iho Chairman.

Songs were sung by Messrs Hoskmg, Groombridge, Ilennett, Ilurgess Stephenson, and Gardiner the accompaniments being ~ln vod , )v Ml . Gaidmer. Mr Jeanings gave a reci-

M about eleven o'clock the singing Auld Lang Syne" and "God ciabl the .. Kin «" ® )! ' oll ght a very sociable gathering to a close.