A.S.R.S.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 199, 1 February 1915, Page 8

A.S.R.S.

j VISIT OF MR. 'MACK TO NEW PLYMOUTH. Mr. M. J. Mack, general secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, is on an official visit to the local branch. On Friday evening he was entertained by the members at a social gathering, the chair being occupied by Mr. J. O'Brien, when the following toast-list was duly honored: —"The King," "The A.5.R.5,." "The Press," "Lord Kitchqner," "The Boys at the Front," 'The Boys on their 'Way to the Front," "The New Plymouth Branch," "A.S.R.S. Candidates," and "The Chairman." Musical items were rendered by Messrs. Glennie, Key, Wakefield, Haw, ■ McFarlanc, Wadlow, Pellew, and I Smith. On Sunday morning Mr, Mack ad- . dressed the members in tho Social Hall, I Mr. O'Brien presiding. Mr. Mack, in a ' lengthy address, dealt exhaustively with ! a great many matters of vital import- , ance to railway men. He showed the 1 great importance of having a real live ! organisation, he traversed the great | progress that had been made during the | past eight years, and outlined a policy for the future. Dealing with the '.everI increasing cost of living, he instanced | the never-ending demand for higher j wages, and he stated definitely that the time was coming when they must concentrate their whole efforts to combat those people who were forcing up the cost of commodities by means of monopoly. He recalled the words uttered to the Hon. Minister for Railways on j this question: "That until the Govern--1 ment grappled earnestly with the monI opolist who was controlling the necessaries of life, there would, and could, ! not be' any other course for the railI way men to pursue than to clamour ■ and ask for increases of wages to meet the increase in the cost of living. He made a stirring appeal to those .present to grasp the opportunity, if it came their way, of talcing advantage of the proposals of Mr. Meredith Aitkinson, who is endeavoring to inaugurate a Workers' Educational Association in New Zealand, on a similar lines as that in vogue in Australia and the Old Land. It was only through a perfect system of education that men could hope to improve their present positions. A e ter rtiswering a number of questions, the meeting, which had been enthusiastic throughout, accorded Mr. 'Mack a hearty vote of thanks for his interesting, lucid and informative address, and renewed confidence in him as general secretary. Mr. Mack loaves for 'Wellington tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.