GOLDEN JUBILEE OF SOCIETY

Southland Times, Issue 23948, 14 October 1939, Page 7

GOLDEN JUBILEE OF SOCIETY

Railwaymen Hold Banquet FIFTY YEARS OF PROGRESS TRIBUTES TO PIONEER MEMBERS The completion of 50 years of service as a militant organization representing the interests of employees of the Railway Dept was celebrated by the Invercargill branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants at a banquet in Smith’s tea rooms last night. ' There was an attendance of about 150, presided over by Mr J. A. Brandford (branch chairman). The banquet was preceded by a concert programme in Smith’s Hall where several speeches were delivered. The chairman welcomed the members and pioneers of the branch, making special reference to Messrs F. Hutchins, J. A. B. Walker and M. B. Feil. Apologies for absence were received from the Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) and'the general manager (Mr G. H. Mackley). Mr Sullivan stated that he had looked forward enthusiastically to the gathering and regretted that the international situation made it impossible for him to leave Wellington. The occasion was an important one in the history of the branch, to which he expressed his best wishes for its continued useful work.

for its continued useful work. The national president (Mr S. W. Gaspar) paid a tribute not only to Mr Christopher Leek, founder of the so- ' ciety, but also to the pioneers. At a • Dominion conference of the society not 40 i.years ago, he said, one of the 100 remits passed had been granted by the ' authorities, and that remit asked for ’ free shovels for surfacemen. The 60- ' hour week in those days was in contrast to the present 40-hour week. The society had fought strenuously for the formation of appeal boards and for superannuation schemes. It was not until 1894 that free passes ’ on the railways were issued to mem- ’ bers, who at that time received only three holidays in the year—Christmas Day, Good Friday and the Sovereign’s ’ birthday. Since then practically all the concessions had been obtained by the ’ society which had made its greatest S:ess during the time the. present ur Government had been in office. ' Before that the few concessions granted had been fought for very strenuously. 1 STRENGTH OF UNION Outside of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, Mr Gaspar said, the society, . with a membership of from 13,000 to • 14,000, was the largest trade union organization in New Zealand. The re- • ceipts last year amounted to £8235 but it had Been necessary to spend about £l6OO more than that amount. The society paid all costs in compensation cases. Of the 52 branches of the society in the Dominion he would place Invercargill first in efficiency and general .usefulness.. The society’s early efforts to obtain 1 for members a fair standard of living were outlined by the general secretary (Mr L. Mcllvride), who claimed that the society was now a definite fac- . tor in the economic and social life of ■ New Zealand. Never in the history of ' the country or of the organization had [ the society made such progress in , wages, improved conditions and happier industrial relationships than in the four i years of the Labour Government’s rule. The restoration of wage cuts made on July 1, 1936, had cost the Government j to date £953,777, and improved wages with the 40-hour week had cost £1,712,694. The total cost of improved ! wages for all railwaymen in New Zealand since the Labour Government took office in November. 1935 was £3,357,918. • The Government recognized the justice ' of the men’s claims and in return was ! achieving maximum efficiency and loyalty. SUCCESS IN THE WAR The banquet was then begun, and after the Loyal toast “Success to Britain and Her Allies” was proposed by Mr M. B. Feil, who spoke of the Empire’s part in a war to end oppression and to establish the principles of freedom and democracy. Mr W. M. C. Denham, M.P., congratulated the branch on the attainment of its jubilee. He said the Ger- . man people themselves knew the full cost of war, for in the last war they lost 2,000,000 killed, and had 5,000,000 wounded. The number of totally blinded was 3000, and 25,000 German soldiers took their own lives. The Ger--1 man people had not forgotten the horrors of war. “If we could deal with the German people the position would be different,” Mr Denham added, “but while Hitler is at the head of af--1 fairs war will be the inevitable result. We are not fighting the German people or the people of any other nation so much as Hitlerism and all that Nazism represents. Revolting as war is, can we stand aside and allow such things to happen?” ' , He added that if Britain and France were beaten the demand Germany would make would be for some of the British colonies. It was inevitable that they should take up arms, and it was unfortunate that the people of other nations had not realized the great ideal they were fighting for—the brotherhood of man. It was an economic war as well, as a war of arms, and the economic factor would play a big part, because if a nation could not get materials for a war it could not fight. They as a people would support England and France to end Hitlerism. ' “Officers and members of the A.S.R.S.” was the toast proposed by Mr J. A. B. Walker who spoke of the great improvements that had been wrought in the working conditions of railway employees since the establishment of the society. THE RANK AND FILE Mr Gaspar, in reply, paid a tribute to the efficiency and progressiveness of the rank and file of the society. The strength of their organization, he said, lay in the unity of the rank and file. He added that even if they reached I what they considered their objective [ now they would still go on. He hoped they would set an example for every similar organization in New Zealand. “Prosperity to the Invercargill branch of the A.S.R.S.” was the toast proposed by the Mayor (Mr J. R. Hanan) who said that satisfied employees meant more to the economic structure of any organization than anything else. The society represented the railway workers individually and collectively and formed an essential cog in the democratic machine. The fact of these organizations being healthy and strong formed a sound basis in the economic success of any undertaking. Mr Hanan spoke of the need in the present war for equality of sacrifice. He had no wish for his remark to have any political significance, but he would say that he did not think there was equality of sacrifice in the last war. “I am inclined to think that we are going to have it this time,” he

added. “Nothing could be more inimical to this country’s interests than what took place in years gone by. I think your society is going to play an important part in the interests of the workers.” Mr J. A. Brandford briefly replied. Mr Mcllvride, who proposed the toast of veteran members of the local branch, paid a tribute to the old members for the wonderful work they had done in the interests of the society and its members, and urged all members not to remain satisfied, for satisfaction meant degeneracy. The toast was replied to by Mr F. Hutchins. K “Present officers of the branch” was proposed by Mr A. Bailey and replied to by Mr M. W. Grantham (branch secretary) and the toast of the performers was proposed by Mr A. V. Tiley and replied to by Mr Charles 1 Trim. The jubilee celebrations will be concluded today with a smoke concert Tomorrow there will be a general meeting of the branch in the Railway Social Hall. During the evening the branch’s birthday cake was cut by Mrs F. ' Hutchins and distributed among those present.