"SECTIONAL SCHEME”

Feilding Star, Volume 6, Issue 1889, 27 April 1928, Page 6

"SECTIONAL SCHEME”

RAILWAY GUARDS’ UNION A.S.R.S. SECRETARY HOSTILE OFFICIAL REC( IGNITH >N NEEDED. ’l’lie general secret a ray of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, Mr E. Mcllvride, states that the newspaper reports that a Guards’ Fnion has been formed as tbe result of the ha Hot of guards conducted by. the Auckland Guards’ Club is incorrect. “The promoters of this sectional scheme.” said Mr Mcllvride, "have yet to discover - whether it is possible to form a guards' union, then whether it will Ik* possible to get otiieial recognition from the Minister ami the Railway Board. They represent; a small minority of the 7.'!.7 guards on the railway classification list. Apparently only -ftil ballot: palters were issued. Does this mean that, they went, only to those who might; he regarded as favourable to the sectional movement V There was no public effort, by the A.S.R.S. to counteract the propaganda, nor was there an independent, scrutiny of the ballot papers, yet the promoters have to admit that 2-17 guards out of their selected list, showed indifference or opposition, either by voting against the proposals or declining to return their ballot papers. This group constitutes a larger one than the 2IC reported as being in favour of a separate union, and the supporters ore actually in a minority of Rio compare:] with all the guards in the service. Our Society under such circumstances would strenuously oppose any endeavour to disintegrate the railway’s organisation. We have ( videnee from many centres, including Auckland, that the great, majority of guards are opposed to any now union, and there is very little possibility of its success.”