RAILWAY SERVANTS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12480, 17 April 1906, Page 2

RAILWAY SERVANTS.

THE 48 HOURS' SYSTEM

The Amalgamate- Society of Railway Servant- ha_ some nine hundred members in Canterbury, and there was a fairly large proportion at the smoke concert held at the Sydenham Football Club Hall on Satumay night. There would have been a bigger muster -till, but for the 'fact that pressure of holiday work kept many ot the members of the Society Away. Mr J. Dawson presided, ami amongst those present wero Messrs T. H. Davey, H. G. Ell, G. Witty, G. Laurenson, and W. W. lanner, M.H.R.'s., and Mr W. W. Collins. Apologies for absence were reeeaved from Messrs S. F. WTiitcombe (District Traffic Manager), H. H. Jackeon, and H, McAmlrew. ,

j Tile C'hairnian stated that the gather- : ing was organised to celebrate the in- ; auguiation of the 4_ hours a week lem. That system, however, had not yet been enforced altogether on tho lines promised by Sir Joseph Ward. ! The Minister had 6tated that when the ' new system was adopted there would he no curtailment of existing privileges. Hut there had been modifications; for instance, shunting gangs would havo their meal times stopped, anil thirdclass signalmen and porters were not j includeti in the 46 hours' week. Xiien there was a system of special jobs, j under which some men were worse oh than before. Generally, the men were disappointed that Sir Joseph's promise liad net been given full eifect to, but they believed that when he returned to the colony matters would bo remedied.

In replying to the toast of "Tlie Tar!- --! lianicnt of New Zealand," propovet! jMr Winter, Mr Tanner urged tne younger members of the Society to qualify themselves so as to bo able to | take up tho burden when the old , workers fell out of it. I Mr Ell said the men could rest assured that the local Members of Parliament would do their best to sco that the whole of tho employees were fully included in the 18 liour- 1 concessions, as was quite anticipated by the last Parliament. Mr Laurenson said it was understood in the Hoiwe that all tho men were to have the advantage of the 48 hours' system, and he believed they would have rio cause for complaint in about three or four months. Messrs Davey and Witty spoke to the same effect. Tho toast of "The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants" was proposed by Mr Brown and responded to by Mr J. A. McCullough. An enjoyable musical programr.ewas gone through, songn being contributed by Messrs Atkins, Bronne, Craycs, Harris, Henderson, Hibbard, Manihera, Mumfnrd, Joll and Alright. The arrangements were capably carried out by the secretary, Mr C. E. G. Sanmete.