RAILWAY GATHERING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17271, 22 September 1919, Page 9

RAILWAY GATHERING.

FEDERATION SUGGESTED

The Auckland branch of the Engineer?. "Firemen, and Cleaners' Association held a smoke concert in tie Hibernian Hall on Saturday evening, at which the secretary. Mr. T. Barron, who is leaviru: the railway service, was farewelled. and soldier mem bers were welcomed home. Mr. A. J. Denz presided. Mr. R. Carroll, who proposed the toast of the returned soldiers, stated that out of their 2*lo members 66 had been on service, and 15 had given their lives for their country. At the re quest of the chairman, the gathering stood in silence for a few moments as a mark of respect to dead comrades.

In giving the toast of kindred societies— the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and the Railway Office re' Institute the chairman gave it as his personal opinion that the three societies should unite. It had been, said that there was an impassible gulf separating; them, but the fact that, both the kindred societies had sent representatives to the gathering showed that the first plank of the bridge had been laid, and he contended that the only hope railway men had of obtaining fair conditions was by united movement.

On behalf of the Amalgamated Society. Mr. Williams said he saw no reason why there should be three separate societies. Had they been united, tlie conditions recently offered by the Department" would have been '" turned down."

Mr. C. R. Bell, replying on behalf of the institute, said he did not know if it would be possible for the three organisations to unite into one, but he believed that they could federate, and on many matters work together. At the moment the Amalgamated Society had (wo petitions before Parliament, and these had the full support of the institute. Other toasts were honoured, ard a number of vocal items were rendered.