HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7209, 18 August 1910, Page 6

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A TRADE UNION PROBLEM SPLIT IN' A RAILWAY SOCIETY. Tho House of Representatives met jesterduy afternoon at 2.30. "Upon the presentation of the Railways Statement, Mr T. E. Taylor (Christchurch North) asked the Minister of Railways when he intended to redeem the promise made last year that when the Locomotive Men’s Association obtained a thousand members, he would recognise it. The Minister of Railways (Hon. J. V. Millar) replied that he had previously denied making such a promise. What he had said was that when the association obtained a thousand members Ls application for recognition would be reconsidered- De had personally told the executive of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants that he was prepared to recognise tho other association. A petition to tins effect was adversely reported upon by a committee of tho House last session, and it had come forward again, and upon the Select Corn-rnittf-e’s recommendation would largely depend the result of tho application r or recognitionPERMANENT “CASCALS.” Mr T. M. Wilford (Hufct) asked when the Minister was going to can be a readjustment of the railway service uy which some of the c-osual employees could bo mode permanent. Many of these cu.-ua.ls had been cinjdoyed by tho department for sixteen to” twenty years and I'ctono workshops was almost entirely manned bv casuals. The Minister replied that GO per cent, of the railway employees had to be permanent according to tho Act, and the list was filled up year by year from the Mr A. S. Malcolm (Clufcha) remarked, with regard to tho Locomotive Association’s appkeation for recognition, he was pleased that the Amalgamated Society hud proposed a solution of the trouble, and ho was communicating with tho engincnuii expressing the hope that the generous terms offered would result in unity being obtained once more in the railway service. THE LOCOMOTIVE SOCIETY. Mr G. W- Russell (Avon) declared that it did not matter a great deal what was done by the Amalgamated' Society, because there was no possibility, so fau* us lie know, of tho enginemcn joining tho Am a Igamatcd Society, whate vc-t overtures were made. The enginemen had their own reasons for this—he was not X«repared to say whether those reasons were good and strong—but they desired a federation with the other body- He thought Inc Minister ought to give the House a lead.

Mr D. McLaren (Wellington East) hoped the Minister of Labour would give effect to his own repeated utterances on trade union policy, and not allow what was a cause of strife in the industrial world to go on in tho railway service. There was too much disunion among tho industries. On every hand employers were complaining that there were too many unions, that they were being harassed. An important fact about the position was that 700 members of luo Locomotive Association were still mem bers of the Amalgamated Society. There was an honest desire on the part of the latter society to give equal and direct representation to all branches of Mie services, and ho would be glad to set* the Minister give the parties and the House a lead on the lines of solid unionism which he had so often voiced in the past. Mr W. F. Massey (leader of the Disposition) stated that the Hallways Committee gave a non-committal report which meant very little. THE PRIME MINISTER’S VIEW. The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) stated that the matter was extremely important. Speaking from considerable ©xx>erience of the details of railway administration, ho was of opinion *hat what the locomotive men proposed to do was a weakening thing. He hoped they would sink their minor differences and work together as a body for the interests of the railway service generally. Tho Government fully recognised that it was not its duty to coerce any section of its employees as to whether they should or should not belong to the A.S.R.S., but he believed that but for the efforts of that body's representations many matters might not have been Improved as quickly as they were after attention had been called to them 1 y the society. Other countries, no doubt, had different systems, but in his own opinion that of the New Zealand railwaymeu was best. The enormous interest concerned in the matter required the Government to see that there was a proper mouthpiece existing to represent the varied interests of the railway employees. Mr F. M. 13. Fisher (Wellington I North) asked if it was a fact that there was a good deal of bitterness among the railway servants. The enginemcn were compelled by statutory provision to belong, to a society which exercised a controlling influence but had no sympathy with the locomotive men. He could not understand why there could be any likelihood of further splitting up. Apparently Mr McLaren wanted all municipal employees organised in one union. What would be the result? Simply that the street sweepers would use the influence of that body to get wages as good as the best skilled carpenters in the corporation employ. Mr J. T. Hogan (Wanganui) .stated tl*nt there hod bcmi a clear majority of enginemen on the executive of the Amalgamated Society. He would like to ask the Minister of Railways why officers . f tlie service were taking away from railway employees by regulation tho privileges he evidently intended them lo get. The treatment of railway servants by the Minister and Parliament was not the thing which made the railway ser vie • discontented.

Mr 11. G. Ell (Christchurch South) said that there were not now the strained relations that there had been between the two bodies in tho railway service, and negotiations were proceeding which would, ho hoped, heal the breach witli great benefit to the service as a whole. A few of the members of the Drivers’ Union had resigned, but the majority had not resigned from the Amalgamated Society, and the members of the present executive bad agreed to resign so that under the new constitution the enginedrivers might have the opportunity of i putting men on the executive. At the present time the president was a driver, and others hold seats on the executive. THE MINISTER AND PRIVILEGES- . The Minister of Railways, in reply, - said that he did not propose to give any lead in the matter until tho committee reported. In regard to tho hut allowance Mr Millar stated that an officer had wrongly* interpreted the regulations, and in the case referred to the employe© had been entitled to u two-shilling allowance, and he would ascertain who had given instructions to the contrary. A member: What about free passes?

Th© Minister: I think they should be given again; I do not believe in any rights being withdrawn from the men-