TRADES HALL MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 95, 22 April 1924, Page 6

TRADES HALL MEETING.

EIGHT HUNDRED ASSEMBLE. STRIKE COMMITTEES FORMED. EARLY SETTLEMENT EXPECTED. ESTIMATE OF TWO DAYS. Following the calling together of the men at the Newmarket workshops and the posting of strike notices, somewhere about 800 men assembled at the Trades Hall at 9 o'cjock to attend a mass meeting of the local branch of the A.S.R.S. and thoee in the workshops. The Press was excluded, but the secretary reported subsequently that the business done covered the forming of strike committees. No strike organiser was appointed, but this item would possibly be considered at a meeting to be held at the Trades Hall at 10 a.m. tomorrow. At this morning's meeting the men were addressed by Messrs. F. Bartram, M.P. for Grey Lynn, P. Hickey, es_organiser of the Queensland and Victorian railwaymen, and J. Purtell, secretary of the Dairymen's Union. Mr. Hickey, during the meeting, receded an invitation from Frankton to ge up and address the men there. The "Fellow Feeling." Tt was stated that the A.S.R.S. has wide . sympathy from workers engaged in other industries in their dispute, but there is no suggestion that the A.S.R-S. will invite other unions to "come out." When questioned this morning the secretaries of various unions stated that up to the present nothing had been done by them and no meetings had been held by the executives. lit was the general opinion that the strike would not last more than a couple of days; but of course there was no guarantee of this. Even if it were prolonged it was hardly likely other unions would be asked to down tools, because all that was necessary to keep the railway service held up was the A=S.R.S. to remain -solid and the engjnedrivere, firemen and cleaners to refuse to work with free labour. One of the most important issues of the strike is whether the enginedrivers, firemen and cleaners will refuse to take out any trains upon which the guard is not a member of the Association. The_ fact that the E.F.C.A. last Friday passed a resolution supporting the A.S.R.B. is taken to mean that the former will do nothing that is likely to jeopardise the cause of the men and no concern is felt upon that score. No Wild Talk. Usually when a stride is declared there is considerable wild talk indulged in by men who happen to be of an excitable nature, but by no stretch of imagination can it be said that such applies to the present trouble. The men, although naturally a little excited, are quiet and orderly, there is no talk of taking unlawful steps and they are prepared to be out and stop out until they receive the treatment they contend is due to them. While realising the seriousness of the position and the great inconvenience, caused to the public, the A.S.Jt.S.. does not consider the men in any way responsible. It is claimed that everything possible has been done to bring about a peaceful settlement of the dispute, but the men say, so long as the Government holds that £3 15/10 is sufficient to keep a man, and wife and children, then there is no hope of settlement. Pickets Ont. That the A.S.H.S. had given up all hope of a settlement of the dispute was made clear some days ago when the various branches.of the Association met and formed strike committees, appointed men for picket duty, and arranged other matters necessary in the interests of the A.S.R.S. when the order came to cease work. The result was that when midnight arrived there was not even a suggestion of confusion. The order had been* issued that all trains then running should proceed to their destination, but no train was to be cleared after midnight. This order was carried out to the letter. The goods train which leaves' Auckland for .Frankton nightly at 12.3 a.m., saw the men sign on at midnight, but when the whistle blew there was no guard—he had signed off. The driver seemed unconcerned —apparently he expected something of the kind to happen, and goods on the train intended for Frankton and intermediate stations are still at Auckland.