A. S. R. S.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1917, Page 3

A. S. R. S.

MEETING OF TARANAKI BRANCHES.

(Communicated), • A combined meeting of members of the Ihiwera, Stratford, and New Plymouth branches of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants was held in the social hall, New Plymouth, on October 28, Mr. W. R. Shaw (Hawera) presiding over a large attendance of members, representative of the whole district. The chairman said the time had arrived when the members, in their own interests and that of their families must make their voice heard in the demands they were making for some relief from the present economic pressure. The fact that so many hundreds of their fellow workers were seeking other means of livelihood rather than remain in the railway service and attempt to make both ends meet on the present rate of wages should awaken the management to the necessity for doing something for those who were remaining and carrying on the work of the railways under more than usually arduous conditions, aided to a great extent by the large number of inexperienced meii now employed. Mr. Smith said it was necessary not merely to take into consideration the position as it affected Taranaki, but rather that of the whole of the .Dominion. Merely protesting against the high cost of commodities was futile, unless that protest was backed up by all the force of logic and constitutional right they could muster. If this country was not prepared to stop the present "profiteering" then it has every right to see that the wage earners are not left to all, the "sacrificing." Messrs, Thome and Johnston (Stratford) strongly supported the idea as outlined in the resolution, and stated that their branch had given them a free hand to do just what they deem best to bring home to those in authority the necessity for action in order to afford relief.

The following resolution was carried unanimously.^—That this combined meeting of Taranaki raihvaymen, representing the members of the Hawcra, Stratford and New Plymouth branches of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants desires to enter its strongest and most emphatic protest against the failure of the Government to take effective steps to deal with the present high and ever increasing cost of living, which increase is pressing tmdulv hard on all wage earners, and especially those in receipt of low rates of wages That in view of the fact that the Government are unable, or unwilling to deal effectively with the "profiteers" who are mainly responsible for the present economic pressure, that the executive of the A.S.R.S. be instructed to accept nothing less than 2s per day increase on present rates oi pay for all members of the Second Division, and to further urge the adoption of a further scale of increases that will automatically rise as the purchasing power of the sovereign decreases.

The almost fabulous price paid for the of houses in various parts of resulted in the following resolution being carried: That the Executive Council be urged to make urgent reprenentations to the Government regarding the present high house rents, with the view of having house rents reduced to pre-war rates.

Want in the midst of plenty, and •tore houses "bulging" with the best and primest of this country's produce, and fit a time when so many people are going without such necessaries resulted in the following motion being heartily adopted: That this combined meeting protests against the "hoarding" of food in this country whilst so many people are unable to procure same owing to the •Wgli prices now prevailing. The protective tariff on, boots is not a good subject to mention to a family man who has just had to provide each of the four children, or more, with "new wheels" was quite evident by the hearty support accorded the foll6wing resolution; That in view of the fact that the present protective tariff on boots in its application benefits only a comparatively few members of the community, that the Government be strongly urged to take over the manufacture of boots, and run same as a State monopoly. Mr. Thorne urged that the Department should be requested to adopt a more vigorous policy in regard to the erection of houses for raihvaymen at various TailWay centres, surely, he said, the Department who have the necessary means and men for carrying out this proposal could do more titan what is being done at the present time. This view wa s also supported by other speakers and as a result it was resolved: That the Railway Department be requested to consider ih'e desirability of adopting a more vigorous policy in the erection of houses at railway centres.

The rushing through of certain amendments, dealing with railway employees about to retire on superannuation, "and in face of the clear reading of Section 26 of the original Ast was responsible for the following motion: That this combined meeting deplores the action of the Government in rushing through Parliamen amendments to the Government Railways Superannuation Fund Act, such amendments being contrary to the spirit of Section 26 of that Act, and vitally affecting the interests of railwaymen without the latter having the opportunity of being heard or consulted. A hearty vote of thanks to the Hawera and Stratford members for their attendance, and a similar compliment to the chairman terminated one of the most enthusiastic meetings yet held in the district.