RAILWAY OFFICERS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 142, 20 June 1927, Page 11

RAILWAY OFFICERS

SOCIAL REUNION

MANAGEMENT AND STAFF

The annual smoke concert of the Railway Officers' Institute and welcome to conference delegates'was held on Saturday evening. Mr.'L. Aekins (chairmatt of the Wellington Branch Committee) presided, and amongst those, present were the Hon. F. J. Rolleston (Act-ing-Minister jof . Railways), Messrs. James Maßon and A. W.. Mouat (members of the Railways Board), and the visiting delegates to the Officers' Conference. „ . ' ••■•-.■■. .

After the toast of "The King" had been duly honoured, the chairman gave the "Executive Council and Executive Committee." - ••

Responding, the president of the Executive Committee (Mr.' V. : Stanley) said they had passed through most stirling times, but an effort.had been made to fnlfil the motto, "The greatest good to the greatest Tromber." The task of re-grading had been a most difficult one. What the result would be was not known, but the Executive Committee was of opinion that good to the service would result Everything possible had been done by the council to safeguard the interests of the officers, and, in his judgment, the officers would have no cause to complain. Mr. P. D. Carroll also responded briefly to'the toast. In proposing "The Management," the president of the council said they all very highly, appreciated the patience and _85 inpathy-shown by the board in dealing with the representations made to them by the executive of the institute. The board had manifested a desire to give effect as far as possible to the aspirations of the institute. . They all recognised the difficulties which the management had to face, in the present time, of financial stringency, and also of motor competition. Messrs. James- Mason and A. W. Mouat replied on lehalf of the management. A report of their remarks is given under another heading, as is 'also the reply of ttie Hon. F. J. Bolleston to the toast of " The Minister ana Parliament."

Beplying to the toast,"Past Presidents" (proposed by Mr. C. P. Byari), Mr. James Young gave an interesting sketch of prominent events in the past history of the Department. _The toast, "The Wellington ■Branch,'' was given by Mr. H. Johan> sonj and was duly responded to; and the toast, ',' Superannuated Members,?' was also duly honoured. . Songs and humorous items were given by Messrs; P. d; Bareham, Ash idwards, and A. J. Mazengarb, and a most enjoyable evening was concluded by the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."