RAILWAY SPLIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 95, 23 April 1928, Page 10

RAILWAY SPLIT.

GUARDS TAKE A BALLOT.

FORMING A NEW UNION.

SIGNS OF DISINTEGRATION,

"That a ballot be taken of all guards in the Dominiofi as to the advisability of forming a train-running union," was a proposal for which a ballot closed on April 14.

The scheme was put forward by the Auckland Guards' Club. There were 461 ballot papers issued, and 315 were returned to the scrutineers. The voting was:—For the proposal, 216; against, 96; informal three. Majority for the proposal 120.

This decision means that the guards employed on the New Zealand Railways have decided to withdraw from the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and, like the Enginedrivers, Firemen ana Cleaners' Association, and the Tradesmen's Association, have an institution of their own.

All the associations named were at one time members of the A.S.R.S., but have gradually broken away from the main body of railwaymen. Together with the Railway Officers' Institute, there will, in future, be five different organisations! governing the affairs of railway servants jwith neither of them affiliated to the other.

Questioned regarding the latest move this morning, several guards expressed the opinion that it was a step in the right direction. It was pointed out that a guard's duty was totally different to that of any other member of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. The matter of forming a separate and complete body had been fully discussed, and the consensus of opinion was that a ballot should be taken to find out exactly how the guards of both islands felt on the matter. It was asserted that with a union of their own the guards would be able to manage their own affairs to much better advantage. At present it appeared as if their identity was buried.