LOCOMOTIVE ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17712, 25 August 1919, Page 9

LOCOMOTIVE ASSOCIATION

SUCCESSFUL SMOKE CONCERT. ROLL OF HONOUR UHTVELLED. ADDRESS BY IHJE PEESIDENT. The Danedin branch of the New Zealand Locomotive Association held a moat buoeessiul smoke concert in the South Dunedin Town Hall on Saturday night for the dual purpose of welcoming back its returned members and of unveiling a roll of honour to perpetuate the mt-mory of their service. In the past the Engine-drivers', Firemen's, and Cleaners' Association has promoted some highly enjoyable gatherings and popular social reunions, but these gatherings were allowed to lapse during the period of tho war. Their reinstatement on Saturday ni{;ht was welcomed with much enthusiasm and received with such emphatio approvaJ that their permanent revival seems to be assured. Mr W. Inglis (chairman of the Dunedin branch) occupied the chair, and was supported by tho local officers of the locomotive department and also by Mr E. Henderson (president of the association), who came down from Christohurch to attend the function. Thore were also present representatives of the Railway Officers' Institute, the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the Workshops branch, members of the Legislature, and representatives of the Returned Soldiers' Association.

The Chairman, after reading a number of apologies, said the gathering was held to extend a very hearty welcome to returned members and to thank them for all they had done for those who had remained at home. These men were now going back into civil life, and he believed they 'would show the same qualities in the future Bβ they had shown in during the period of the war. He concluded by expressing his pleasure at seeing amongst those present Mr Victor Middlemass, who at the time of his enlistement was chairman of the Invercargill branch, and who, despite a great number of surgical operations, was back again still emiling.—(Loud applause.) The toast of ''Members of Parliament" was proposed by Mr W. Murfitt, who said that if all the members of the. Legislature were of the same mind as the Dunedin representatives the railway men would speedily have their just demands granted. The Hon. J. T. Paul, M.L.C., in roply, highly commended the locomotive men for the loyal manner in which they had " carried on " during • the difficult period of the war. He added that, in his opinion, there would not be absolute satisfaction throughout the whole of the service until all its branches were represented on the management of the railways.—(Applause ) Mr Q E. Statham, M.P., in the course °J «%- ls r," 5 ?' 7, paid a Wbute to the work of Mr Sidey as member for Dunedin South. Continuing, he said he was not going to introduce the subject of party politics that mght, but, whatever was done in the future, would have to be done for the good of the people of the dominion as a whole, and not for any one section.—(Applause.) v r ROLL OF HONOUR UNVEILED An outstanding feature of the proceedings was tiie unveiling of a handsome roll ot nonour placing on record the war service rendered by members of the Dunedia branch of the Engine-drivers', Firemen's, and Cleaners' Association. Over 80 names appeared on the roll, thus representing a most creditable record of service. The unveiUng ceremony was performed by Mr J i-aylor (locomotive foreman), who said the main purpose of their gathering was to wekome the boys who had fought so nobW and a, well for the freedom of the Empire and also to honour those who had fallen ■in the cause of liberty and justice.—(Ar> Pl *T .1* 1914 volunteers had been called for to form a corps of railway engineersj and so keen was the response that many had had to be refused, and otWs had given up their positions in order to be able to go.—(Loud applause.) Later on many others had and WmLm found the full quota which it had been asked to provide. Bugler R. Hunter theD sounded the " Last im? .*£ ,° f respeot to the Men, and, after standing for a moment in silence, S thf King!" 6 J m 6insing "S ol^ «^ r 0, P ro Posed the toast of Our Soldjers," and, fo rep i y j? Jones, said that the Railway Servants' As-' I T a T t would at "" & pleased to co-operate with the EFCA S 8 - & t ™"» o f **y exjsted m its department of the service, SPEECH BY. THE PRESIDENT byY^TX^hTr^^-S f r Sr ?""s**; while were away at the front. He ako emphasised the great advantages whach had been derived t™ the Sick Benefit Seoiety dSTagiS'SdSS in November last, and stated that the I<££ sum disbursed m sick £20(£SP u\ V T > highly for foresight oflhot who had placed the fund in such a souud financial position.-(Appkuse.) * Mr Henderson, in the course of a lentrthv reply, said the association possessed a highly oreditable record in the of war work over one-third of its members having volunteered for active service Proceeding, he referred to the difficult and d£ tioal period from which the service had ju£ duTing whicn a etnke had been very narrowly averted. Such a strike, as one speaker had said, m£ht have been a disaster, but it was a most un ZT% th,ng *"*■ && l ehould ha™ use such measures in order to push their claims in an endeavour to secure justioT After contrasting the conditions to-day wSh those which obtained in 1908, Mr Henderson eaid that the railway eervice did not yet occupy the pos.tion which they would like to see it occupying m the public services of tte country, nor were they satisfied with the wages and conditions of work. If other classes of workers were entitled to a 44-hour week he cou;d not understand why it was denied to the railway service. So far as the question of wages was concerned it had been placed before the Minister, and he hoped that during the session their wages would be placed on such a footing aa would ensure a contented service throughout the dominion. Although the trouble had been averted in the meantime the conditions were still particularly bad in the North Island, and while they had been a non-mili-tant union in the past they would be prepared in the future to fight for their just claims. They wanted an eight-hour day with adequate remuneration for the responsible duties which they were called upon to fulfil and the executive wae prepared to do its utmost to secure those things, but it must have the backing of every member of the association. Mr Henderson concluded bv statinrr that he would like to see cooperation between the association and the various other societies in order that the service might bo placed on a better footing Keno . rally, and matters of common interest mirfit be represented foroiblv to tho department Whenever occasion arose.—(Applause ) J' 1 . 8 "", briefly proposed the toast of Kindred Societies." Replies were made by Messrs WE Smith (N.Z.R.0.1.), M. R e £ dmgton (A.S.R.S.), and A. J. Morrison (chairman of the Hillside branch), ea™f whom referred to the need for unity and co-operation on tho part of the various societies m the service, and tho readiness of the rank and file to see that co-operation bronerht about Other toasts honoured during the evening were liocal Officers" (proposed by Mr J Atkinson and replied to by Mr J. Taylor) and "The Ladies", .(proposed by Mr T M'NeH and responded to by Mr F Batetnan). A most enjoyable musical programme was contributed to bv the following: —Messrs C Dcnholm, W. Oirrrie. W. Inprlis, T. Stephenson, W. Jarvio, F. Page. J. Sharp, and J. Atkinson (songs), T. Stephenson (clarionet solo), and R. (recitation). A quartet:; party also sang " Down Moonlia-ht Bay very tastofullv. Mr G. Titchenor P'wd the accompaniments. The gathering concluded, ns it had begun, with the singing of the National Anthem.