ONE UNION OR TWO?

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 546, 29 June 1909, Page 6

ONE UNION OR TWO?

\ A fiAILWAYMEN'S QUESTION!.;''.;.' ..;.'■ ' Tho .lliiiister for, Eaiiways.(Hon J-Ad Millar), apparently shows no* favour to an attempt which is being mado to form a now ■: ■'' trades union under the title of the Locomotive Enginemeh's' and Firemen's Society. Whon waited upon in Chrustehurch by the promoters of the. new, departure, he stated that unless it was shown that-a very largi '<■" majority',' being not less: than 1000 : financial ; ' members, had joined the proposed,union, hi . would not consider their requost for rcoog. nition in any' way. ;Ho also-informed them ', that in his'opinion they wore making a mn>take in breaking away from tho Amalgamated Society Of Eailway Servants, ae one united'' society must be more beneficial for the men ' .than separate smaller unions..' Hβ thought ; it'would bo a mistake for'tho society, to bo weakened by any section breaking away and foruiing a separate union. ■■' ... " .It;is stated that enginomen' and nroman { have been ■circularised on'bolialf of the pro-, posed new. union, and that tho circulars eot ■' forth that it was intended;'to help tho Am-'■'i-algamated Society,of Eailway Sorvants. Tho ' official attitude of the latter, body, however, .'','•" is one of strong hostility to the now dopor- *■ turo,; which, they contend, ; will' creato' ■ jeai- , ousios bohyoon railway- workers in difloront branches',-'and, paralysej the efforts mado by r tho Amalgamated ■ Society to obtain hotter j-. . conditions for all classes within thp , service. •In this attitude the' Amalgamated 'Society ■ '.■ of jEailway Servants is encouraged by tho statements of the Minister for-Railways, aa .•' contained in a letter to tho president of the' - society.- Mrj Millar says:— :;?■' .. ,; > .'. '"Up to the present time the" in-' '. : terosts of railway men have been , -woll looked after' by the society, and I think lam safe in saying that all '■' ■:■- '~ '• branches of tho service have received .' material bonofits, and if this, is so, ' ■ : . ; I .think all , railwaymon will, admit j '. Othat it would bo better to leave well alone.. As you are tho president of tho Society of Railway Servants re,t-: cognised by the Government,'. wlion- ; ■""';:'■;■'■ '.■"-. . over Uio'petition is received iniegard •'■."• vto the formation of; tbo now union; in- ■''. ■ . i. timation will bo sent toyou, ahd yon '. will be invited to diecuss the wholo .■'.-' position."; ~ ■ ,'■■'.■: :.r:. .■"■■■. . . '■■'. -,' . ■,; Tho Minister also saye tliat "a doubt has ; arisorf as to whoth'er,' legally, the proposed union can bo rocognised, as under tho' Act the one socioty, only that tho, Minister for,"' Railways can deal with is tho Amalgamated ' Society of Railway Sorvants." "■'■■ .'■ ■ \■■■'.■■■ <■ 1 Ho promises 'to look.'further, into tho mat ; ' tor when ho recuivos a potition'from those wishing'to join the proposed now body. ' '