JOBILEE DINNER

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 61, 12 March 1936, Page 15

JOBILEE DINNER

A.S.R.S. FUNCTION

IMPORTANT GATHERING

MR. SAVAGE ATTENDS

.! A notable event in the history of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants—the fiftieth anniversary of its birth—was fittingly celebrated last evening, when the jubilee dinner was held at the Royal Oak Hotel. There was a distinguished, gathering, the guests of hon6ur including the Prime' Minister (the Hon. M. J. Savage), the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan), the Minister of Education (the Hon. P. Fraser), the Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong), the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple), the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), the Hon. J. A, McCullough, M.L.C., the General Manager of Railways (Mr. G. H. Mackley), a former General Manager (Mr. R. W. McVllly), Mr. H. F. O'Leary, K.C., and others. The president of ; the society (Mr. E. J. Dash) presided,and delegates from all -....branches' throughout New Zealand were present.In proposing the toast of the "A.5.R.5.," Mr. G. G. Stewart said that the history and vicissitudes of the society had been such as to justify their belief in the magic of the four letters. The society was formed on the new principle, of trade unionism that developed about that time. : This involved the building up of funds on a large scale and the conserving of its own particular interests. During the last fifty'years it had honoured and developed those principles. There was a constant collaboration between the society and the Railway Department in an effort to improve things throughout the service. The society had had a very difficult time in the last fifty years. It was associated with two strikes, but in spite of the various industrial upheavals, it went on Improving its position and building up its personnel. The management of the Railway Department fully appreciated- the efforts of the society toj make things run smoothly.. The so-: ciety had been fortunate in its officers: and particularly in its choice of leaders, and when one glanced back over the i last fifty years one would ..see. how necessary it had been. The A.S.R.S. now was the greatest union in New Zealand and with its strength of 9000 members, it was something to be., reckoned with. It had by its efforts and achievements, gained and retained: the confidence of the people, and the confidence of the Government. ' HISTORY OF A.S.R.S. : Replying to the toast, Mr. Dash traced in detail the history and; development of the society since the more or less accidental meeting of five men on the railway wharf at Auckland one Sunday early .in 1886. From the discussion that ensued there on working conditions, he said, there emerged the organisation whose jubilee they were now honouring. The first chairman of the early union, which was a railway union in every sense of the word, was Mr. Jack Smith, and Mr. Chris.Leek, who'had been the moving spirit, was the first secretary. The pioneers had truly laid down the foundation of a famous institution. What changes would they see today. ■_hey would find that 401b rails had been replaced by 701b and 1001b tfails, Set in hardwood sleepers with strongfastenings; they would see the X class engines, the product of the New Zealand workshops, and built by their children's children; they would see the girder-built bridges set in concrete piers; they would see safety and other appliances; theyYwould learn of: the millions of passengers iVho had been carried without a single accident. Upon reflection they would find the machine displacing, labour. The pioneers, would say that science had solved the prob-1 lems of production, but at the same time they would note that science had hot yet solved the problems of the distributor. They would turn to those of the present day and say: "That is your job." ; "Unions -are -more- necessary- today than ever,'-' said Mr. Dash. operations' must be" co-ordinating. This not only ."applies-to-trade unions,'; but also to the and the Govern-; Went. They,,must all co-operate if they wer^ tO;SO^ve,the problems of the; day. Ifi.Wie;: afe;rtp be worthy; successors to our. pioneer leaders, and the. Government _ Worthy i successor to' Ballance and Seddon, we must take' our courage in both hands, and remind the people that the pioneer*, did n°t falter when-faced -with the- seif-s'anie difficulties we are facing today." AN ABLE MINISTER. Mr. R. W. McVilly proposed the toast of the "Minister1 of Railways."He said that they had now a change' of control and they were fortunate in having at their head a Minister whose administrative ability had been well demonstrated in Christchurch. Mr. Sullivan Was taking ov t er a very important Department—a Department that had done more than--any-other to> help-the advancement'- of * the Dominion. The Department had never deceived full credit for that. The Minister was following a line of distinguished administrative heads, and he assured him that he would have the full, support of the railwaymen. The Minister's reply is reported elsewhere. Proposing the toast of the "General Manager 0_ .Railways," Mr. L. Mcllvride said that all' iailwaymen were interested in the welfare of the Railway Department, and . the.problems that faced the management also faced -them as'citizens of New Zealand. In reply, Mr. G. H. Mackley gave a message of good will and friendship to the members of the A.S.R.S. from himself and his executive Officers. He believed that the society had acted wisely in adopting'the motto, "All men are brethren," and if that motto were practised throughout the service they might get somewhere. ; Railwaymen belonged to one big team, and every team must have a skipper. It was the job of the skipper to look after the welfare of the men, and if there were any tries to he scored he would be glad to pass th_ ball at the right time. The toast of the "Older Members" was proposed by Mr. E. C. Fraser, who referred to the heritage that the pioneers had left to the present generation. They-Ha9 "builded well, and it -jva's-fori the .'yoiUiger members to) continue1 buildift*'*^" ;.*" •--::/. E_ vY Mr.! M". J. Mack: ; yephed,--And :bnefly recounted the^:effortS of .those who were: identified with the early progress of the society. • . - ■ Other toasts honoured were the "Legal Profession," proposed by Mr. J Doig and responded to by Mr. H. F O'Leary, K.G:; "Visiting Delegates," proposed by Mr. S. W. Gaspar and re-, sponded to by Mr. S. Thome;, and "Kindred Societies," proposed by Mr. J. Cotterill, M.P., and responded to by Mr. J. H. McKenzie, of the P. and T. Association. -■