LOCAL OFFICERS NEUTRAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17457, 29 April 1920, Page 5

LOCAL OFFICERS NEUTRAL.

TROUBLES OF THEIR OWN

The members of the Railway Officers' Institute in Auckland are maiiiUming a neutral attitude towards the strike. The secretary stated yesterday that the institute had no connect-on with the strike and had not considered the question. It had come as a surprise to the members locally, though they had been aware that the prevailing dissatisfaction with conditions might cause such an occurrence at any time. Constitutional means had always been used by the institute, and a genera! meeting of the Auckland branch had recently decided against participating in anv form of strike, in view of the deplorable effect they knew such action would have upon the community. Nevertheless the members of the institute were in sympathy with the claims of the men of the Second Division societies. The latter's financial troubles were, however, their own affair, and th« officers hoped to see an early settlement of the trouble. Th op-n : on was expressed by the Fecretary that 'be local branch of the institute would remain absolutely neutral, according to the attitude adopted at the recent general meeting. A meeting of the <ommittee would he called should any special phase of importance demand such a course. Also, the executive council, of the institute would probably be called together at an early date.