THE LAST OF THE SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 103, 30 April 1920, Page 5

THE LAST OF THE SERVICE.

TO TAKE A BALLOT. RAILWAY OFFICERS VOTE TO-DAY. This morning, probably for the first time in the history of the Dominion, clerks are taking a secret ballot on a strike issue, the R. 0.1. having reached thia decision at the last of two stopwork meetings held yesterday in the social hall cm the railway station. The lirst meeting was a partial sequel to instructions issued by the management of tlic service to members of the R.O.L to prepare for Second Division duty. Members met in the morning, and very indignantly criticised the management's i decision. A deputation was accordingly i appointed to wait upon tho head officers, the result being an assurance that no member of the Institute would be instructed to do Second Division work, but that the Department would depend on volunteers f or any such work. Upon this result being reported to the second meeting a motion was carried to take a ballot returnable to-day as to whether ' the. local branch of the Institute would \or would not strike in sympathy with I the A.S.R.S. and E.F.C.A. It was further decided to handle all urgent or perishable goods now on hand which were consigned before the strike. The j meeting also concluded with a resolution ■to do silly work required in connection ' with the "Royal visit.

1 his morning members are out on motor jiggers on the Northern line and tile Waikato as far as l'okeno distributing the Fallot papers, returnable witliin sufficient time to permit of a decision being discosed to a meeting of the Institute, to be lipid at 7.30 this evening. [By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON", this day. At a meeting of the South Auckland brunch of tho Railway OUicers' Institute the following resolution was carried: — "Thiri meeting urgently requests, in the event of any First Division member being culled upon by tho Department to I occupy any position formerly held by a member of the Second Division, and subi I'.wuli'.l through refusing such duty, the Dominion executive at once call upon every member of the institute to immediately cease work." The institute also passed resolutions ex-tending to the Emxinedrivers and Firemen's Association hearty sympathy in the unfortunate position into which they have been forced, and extending moral support in every way, and if neceesary, financial support. The meeting placed itself an--1 reservedly in the hand 3of the executive, ;to loyally support any action deemed necessary in safeguarding the interests of the h'rst division.