THE HON. J. A. MILLAR.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14503, 4 November 1912, Page 3

THE HON. J. A. MILLAR.

—: o HONOURED BY RAILWAYMEN. ADVOCATES HIGHER PAY. A number of members of the Canterbury branch, and the executive, of tho Locomotive Men's Union gathered at the King George Hotel on Saturday evening, for tho purpose of presenting the Hon. J. A. Millar with an Illuminated address. After tho toast of tho King had been honoured, Mr Kennedy, president of th© Association, presented the illuminated address, which was signed j by the executive on behalf of the members of tho Association. Ho said, in the course of his remarlts, that tho Association was actuated, in presenting this token of their appreciation, by the honesty of purpose and upright character of tho Hon. Mr Millar towards the locomotive men. He alsotoulogised tho abilities of Mr Millar as a politician and as Minister of Railways. The position, of Minister of Railways was an, extremely arduous one, arid' one deniaDdiug; ■firmness " and a'keen- insight, in conjunction with a desire to do what was fair towards tho different factions of the community. The Hon. Mr Millar had displayed those abilities, and had--mastered the details of raijway working. The locomotive men recognised that, on taking office as Minister of Railways, Mr Millar had a very hai d row to hoe. Ifc was generally recognised that the practice of continually giving- concessions to sections of the community had to' cease, and in Mr Millar they recognised the right man in tho right place. He regretted that the promise o»: Mr Millar to give the first-class pass after twenty years' service, had not boon given effect to, but they acceptcl Mr Millar's assurance that instructions had been given before he; left office to carry this promise out. Mr Kennedy referred to tho excellent work done by Mr Milhar in furthering the interests of locomotive men, and said that if he | had remained in office that tho locomotive men would have received their rights and been paid equal wages to the engine-drivers in Australia, he concluded his remarks.by wishing Mr Millar long life", and hoped ho would always remember the members of tho Association; the locomotive men looked upon him as the champion of their cause.

On rising to respond, the lion. !Mr Millar was greeted with rounds of npplausc. He thanked, tho Association, for their very handsome address, and said lie would look upon it, not for its intrinsic value, but for the very kindly spirit ■which, prompted tbo Tiieinbers of tho Association in giving it to him. Ho very much appreciated the remarks of the previous speaker. He claimed that his sympathies always wore with Labour, and ho resented the notions of an individual member of Parliament who, undor tho pretence of voicing the opinion of Labour, took .a prominent part in objecting to himself occupying the position as leader of the Liberal Party. Ho assured his hearers that he had no feeling in the matter, because that member did not represent Labour, but only claimed to do so. Mr Millar stated that ho had assisted in the Trades Union movement since-th'J roar 1885, and it certainly cut him to the quick to hear a member of Parliament say that ho never represented Labour.

'My work as a.Labour representative," continued Mr Millar, '-can oo seen on the Statute Book since the year 1899, which is sufficient reply to those who thiiik .otherwise of mc." It gave him great pleasure to meet tho representatives of the Locomotive Union, because they represented a specific \ trade, and knew what they -were ; talking about, and always, advanced clear and logical arguments. "When j he first met the Locomotive Union, J he put their claim for recognition i off for twelve months, to see ! if it was a genuine movement, an'l j since he visited Australia he was t firmly convinced that tho locomotive men required a separate union. He was. convinced by tho arguments he heard at a conference of locomotive men, in Brisbane, that the locomotive men in New Zealand were not being treated in the vay that they should be. and he had made np his mhid to put patters right. He did not believe, in the railways . being made a. raon'ey-makinjj ; concern, but they should merely pay their v,-ay, in tho same direction as tho Pest Office, Trust Office, and similar Government departments. They should all pay their own interest, and he be- ■ lie?od the railways would never be on • a proper footing until they were r»irovcd'from the effects of the Gonsoli- : dated Fund. He considered the rail • ways should have a sinking fund, m> that they would not have to rely upoi; foreign money with which f-o comwwuv each year. The railways, oa the Ist

April each Year, started on tlicir wav without «• penny in their exchequer, as all ,tho profit went into the Consolidated Fund. Hβ found the wages paid to locomotive men ia Australia much higher than < what was paid in. Now Zealand, but he recognised that in New Zealand the increase oould not be made at onco. It nrnst be done gradually. He himself had gone as far as he could in one year, but ho had intended to •Iα more, and he trusted his suce<\=sors would carry out his own intentions. Ho did not know if his health would ever allow him to cuter politics again, but, if it did, ho did not intend to be a dummy. He concluded by saying that he would always remember his pleasant associations with the locomotive man. and the address would revive th<\so feelings. Ho hoped to hand the address to his children when _he no longer remained on this earth, as a token of the esteem in which.the locr>motivo men held their father. Ho wished the I.ocomotivo Union every success, and hoped the Minister in power now would recognise tho locomotive men's arduous work and responsibilities.

Mr McArley (general secretary) also eulogised the good work dono by the Hon. Mr Millar, and the gentleman-y spirit in which ho had met the delegates from the Locomotive Union. Mr G. Brown (ex-president) in a neat and liappy speech, proposed tho toast of thoir guest. 11l replying Mr Millar said ho always found a good feeling existing between himself and the locomotive men. As Sir McArley stated, they had crossed swords on many occasions, yet there always remained that good feeling necessary ior carrying on a largo concern between employer and employees. Mr Millar proposed the toast of tho Executive, coupled with the names of Messrs Brown and Kennedy. Ho congratulated tho Locomotive Union on its selection •of officers. _ They always advanced good and logical arguments, and never resorted to bounceHo congratulated tho Union on its progress, and trusted that ifc would long continuo to do so, and retain good and efficient officers.

Messrs Brown and Kennedy briefly replied. Mr Brown complimented the Union on having capable officers like Messrs Kennedy and McArley. Under their guidance the Union must succeed. Tho address presented to the Hon. Mr Millar read as follows: —"We, tho undersigned, on behalf of members of the New Zealand Locomotive Enginedrivers, Firemen, and Cleaners' Association, respectfuljy ask you to accept the accompanying illuminated address, as a token of their esteem op your retirement from the position of Minister of Railways. At tho same timo tho members of the Association desiro to express to you their keen appreciation of tho services you havo rendered tho locomotive men .by your recognising their Association and by your honest efforts to imprqvo their position in tho Railway Service during your term of office as Minister of Railways. With sincere wishes for a long life and a. prosperous career. Signed: S. Kennedy. W r . McArley, C. W. Beaumont, T. Boden, R. Callor, E. J. Grey, J. McNecly, 0. Harrington, E. W. Henderson, A. Lees, F. j>. ■ Mather, R. E. McNish.