ANNUAL REUNION

Southland Times, Issue 23183, 26 April 1937, Page 14

ANNUAL REUNION

RAILWAY OFFICERS’ INSTITUTE PROGRESS DURING YEAR The annual reunion of the Southland branch of the Railway Officers Institute was held in the Rosewood tea rooms on Saturday evening. Mr R. W. Jones, president of the branch, was chairman for the evening, and the visitors included the Hon. T. F. Doyle, M.L.C., the Mayor of Invercargill (Mr John Miller), the president of the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce (Mr J H. Reed), the Dominion president of the institute (Mr E. W. Barnes) and Mr E. A. Nichol, of Bluff. The chairman proposed the toast of “Parliament.” The present Parliament had come quite a lot under public notice recently, he said, and much to its favour. The Labour Government had been responsible for much humanitarian legislation, which had put the nation in the forefront of nations throughout the world. He paid a tribute to the Legislative Council, and hoped that the present Parliament would continue to carry on its good work. In reply, Mr Doyle said that Parliament could be said to be the greatest business organization in New Zealand, and that the present Government compared more than favourably with any to have occupied the Treasury benches. Their problems today were both national and international in character, but the Labour Government was handling those problems, and by its deeds had placed the country in the forefront of the nations. The legislation introduced had had a remarkable influence and had been advantageous to the people of the Dominion. The people had nothing to fear from the present Government Its legislation might have appeared to be revolutionary, but it had been beneficial. Mr D. G. Smart paid a tribute to the Mayor and councillors in proposing the toast of “Local Bodies.” The Mayor, he said, possessed courage, integrity and vision, and it was to his credit that much good had been done for the city. “The railways have not much to do with civic affairs,” added Mr Smart, “but all railwaymen know that the council controls a large number of trading departments; and if the vote goes the right way there might be still another department—the bus department.” (Laughter.) “Local bodies, like parliament, are elected by the people, and the people get what they ask for,” declared the Mayor in reply. Some of the trading departments did not pay because those present were getting the benefits from them and did not pay for them, he said. An interesting account of the early history of the construction of the railway from Invercargill to Bluff was given by Mr .Nichol, who proposed the toast of “The Railways Department.” Mr G. H. McLean replied and said that the past year had been a successful one. There had been many difficulties, but every man had done his job. Despite the fact that the expenditure had increased, additional staff had been engaged and the restoration of salaries to the 1931 standard, there had been an increase in the net revenue for the year. Mr' J. H. Reed proposed the toast of the “Railways Officers’ Institute,” and said that with a membership of 3000 throughout New Zealand it was in the position to exercise a powerful influence in the community. He hoped the institute would continue to progress. The institute had been in existence a long time, said Mr Barnes, and it was trying to carry on the structure of the organization in the spirit in which the pioneers had started it. Other toasts honoured were:— ‘ Our Clients” (proposed by Mr R. Watkins and responded to by Mr J. H. Reed); “Kindred Societies” (Mr J. H, S. Orr); “Country Members and Superannuated Members” (Mr A. T. Fifleld—Mr W. F. Webb); “Press and Performers.” During the evening an enjoyable programme was presented.