RAILWAYMEN'S UNREST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17140, 21 April 1919, Page 6

RAILWAYMEN'S UNREST.

DISSENSION IN RANKS.

hostility to executive.

CONFERENCE TO BE CALLED.

Tho position in regard to the railway dispute is said to be extremely critical, i. Serious dissension exists in the ranks of 3 the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants in regard to the acceptance by the executive of the society of the Minister's - proposed new schedule and classification. ) It is stated that most of the branches of th(, society have passed resolutions rejecting the proposals, and condemning the . executive for its action in accepting them > on behalf of the society. As a result, the 11 executive has decided to hold a conferenco ; at Wellington on May 5 between represeriI t&tives of the 47 branches of the society and the excutive, when the position will be discussed. In the event of the execu- > t-ivo being unable to induce the delegates j to accept tho proposals, or, failing tlpt, , | coming to an agreement with the Minister I; in regard to certain further concessions j that are deemed essential, it is.feared that ' j drastio action resulting in a strike may ' : be takon by certain branches. { [ Much of tho dissension is said to be due to the action of one member of the executive, who is said to have written to the Palmerston North branch of the society making certain allegations against his colleagues for tho manner in which the • negotiations with the Minister and management were conducted. The 3amo member is also said to have used his influence with other brandies with the object of having the proposals rejected and the executive discredited. At a recent meeting of the executive, at which a copy of the letter written by a member to the Palmerston North branch was produced, a resolution was unanimously carried emphatically affirming that the letter deliber- . ate'y misrepresented facts in order <io create dissension and distrust in the chief > i executive officers of the society. The resoI lotion further stated that it was desirable , I that all branches should be informed that ' | the officers referred to in conducting the ' j negotiations with the Minister and man- • | agement acted with the unanimous con- . icurrence and support of the executive i council, every member having a full oppor- , tunity of expressing himself on every subject discussed. Regret was expressed that : the member who wrote tho letter to the I , Palmerston North branch did not avail' himself of the opportunity and had re- 1 sorted to a course of action which was in j direct opposition to the rnl<is of the organi-1 < saticn, and calculated to do members, who! probably did not realiso the full import; ■ of this concessions granted, a considerable j amount of harm. The enginedrivere. cleaners and firemen [ in tho railway service, who are not affili-1 ated with the Amalgamated Society are, also said to have rejected the Minister's proposals, but official information regarding the attitude of the various branches of the union is not available. It is known, however, that many of the 1 members are extremely hostile to the acceptance of the i proposals, and in the event of further con-1 cessions not being obtained there is every' i prospect of a strike being declared. Mean- i while the men are awaiting the result of l further negotiations that are now being conducted between the grand council in Wellington and the management. DISCONTENT AT WHANG PROPOSALS NOT ACCEPTED. [BY telegraph.— correspondent.] WHANGAREI, Saturday. A largely-attended meeting of the Whangarei branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants was held here to consider the proposed alterations in working conditions and wages. Members were present from all branches of the second division. After a lengthy discussion the Mowing resolutions were car- '; ried :— '! " That this meeting of the Whangarei I branch of the Amalgamated Society of . Railway Servants, after discussing tha I, schedule of wages and conditions as sub-, jmitted by the Minister and management, 1 j considers the proposals far from satisfac-. , toiy, seeing that the Government has made ! no attempt to reduce the cost of living; also thai we heartily support the resolu- i tion carried at the mass meeting of railway employees held on April 13, at Auckland, that an emergency committee be appointed to prepare for any action necessary to be •taken during the present crisis, and urge . all branches to act in a similar manner." I " That, while recognising the value, of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants to all locomotive men generally, we hereby consider that the time haß arrived , when the duty of the society is to deter-, minedly and loyally support the i^ngineeis, : Firemen and Gleaners' Association in all efforts to improve the present unsatisfactory conditions of all railwaymen; wo extend hearty greeting to our sister society,, and pledge it our undivided support." j