STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT OF A.S.R.S.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XL, Issue 9292, 29 April 1920, Page 5

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT OF A.S.R.S.

MEN UNITED

WELLINGTON, Aprif'2B

Owing cto the difficulty of travelling .and the short notice given of the Amalgamated Society's emergency meeting .of the executive, there was not a full meeting .of councillors to-day, but the xesult of .the strike ballot was telegraphed to the councillors en route, and their opinions^ were available for .the guidance .of their colleagues in 'Wellington. The executive's decision ito declare a strike in the North Island immediately was made by Mr it. Hamptonj .the president, to a large "gathering of Wellington members of ,the .Society who .had come to headquarters to know ..what they should do under difficult circumstances, with "scab" trains j:unning on suburban lines.. i

Mr Hampton, addressing .these men, said: "The executive has decided to declare .a strike forthwith in .the North Island, and if it becomes necessary, later, in the South Island also. <(CJieers.) I ask you as a man to refrain from any lawlessness—(hear, hear) — and as a personal favour to myself I ask you to refrain from lounging about hotel bars, because the* money which 3'ou may be tempted to spend in drink may isjean the difference between success and failure in this fight. IdG not say this as a wowser, but I say that if we are going to win—l am coniident we are, going to win, and I know what I am talking about, not only in regard to what is happening amongst our men, but amongst organised labour generally Three cheers for Mr Hampton and cheers for the strike interrupted hisspeech a.t this point. Mr Hampton concluded: "I ought to add this: There have been differences between our organisation and the Locomotive Association in the past, but this

business is undoubtedly going to be . the means of solidifying the railwaymen in New Zealand. There is no question about that, and so far as any differences or arguments between the leaders of the respective societies in the past are concerned, they are done with. We start this fight arm in arm, shoulder to shoulder.'' (Cheers.) Several men inquired when the strike would start. Mr Hampton replied: "We did not fix a definite time, but if you are called for duty now, you should not work." (Hear, hear.)