SUSPENSION CONFIRMED

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30115, 26 April 1963, Page 15

SUSPENSION CONFIRMED

Special A.S.R.S. Meeting

The former secretary of the Canterbury branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants (Mr A. E. Armstrong) was officially suspended from union membership and all offices in a secret ballot at a special general meeting of the branch in Christchurch on Wednesday night. The casting vote of the returning officer (Mr A. Cairns) decided the issue, when voting was 44 each way. The voting took place about 11 p.m. after about 70 members present earlier, had left the ball. The Canterbury branch of the union has about 850 members.

| Mr Armstrong, commenting on the outcome of the ballot, said had the majority of the | Canterbury members turned lup for the meeting, he would haved "walked home” with [votes against his suspension. Commenting on his action in placing the casting vote. Mr Cairns said that he “had no personal feelings against Mr Armstrong whatsoever. “My vote upheld the resolution by the Canterbury executive.” he said. "The resolution was that we uphold the action of the national council in suspending Mr Armstrong. “I upheld the action of the ruling body of the A.S.R.S. There was nothing else we could do. “We have to have a secretary (in Canterbury).” said Mr Cairns. “If my casting vote had gone the other way. the Canterbury branch of the A.S.R.S. would have been without an acting secretary, as Mr Finlayson (the assistant secretary) has resigned.”

Mr Cairns said the reason the secret ballot was held so late at night was that many speakers bad been allowed extra time.

Mr Armstrong last evening said his suspension "was not worrying him in the least. Ballots are not democratic unless every member of the union has a vote.” he said. "I could have got a few more men to the meeting if I had ‘worked around’.” Mr Armstrong said he would discuss his employment situation today with the Railways District Traffic Manager. Mr Armstrong said that his lawyer would press ahead with his application in the Supreme Court to have his suspension by the national council of the society declared invalid and wrongful, public place.