RAILWAY RESERVE

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144667, 29 April 1915, Page 4

RAILWAY RESERVE

BRANCH FORMED AT NEW PLYMOUTH. / There was a good attendance of railway workers at Lie Social Hall ou Tuesday for the purpose of forming a branch ui tint railway section of the National Resoive of New Zealand. Tile meeting was addressed by .Messrs. E. A. Dawson (Utlicers' institute), W. Wiles (itnginedriver;;’ Union), and G. T. O’Lattglilin (Amalgamated Society of Rauwuy ."servants). These delegates were sent by the executive of tho railway section of tho National Reserve, with the approval ol the General .Manager of Railways. Mr. K, H. Uliley. Tho delegates have addressed fifteen meetings, at which 1042 railway men attended. Branches of the reserve have been formed at [’clone, To Kuiti, Puokakaiiki, laumarunni. Ohakune. Taihapo. and Hnwera, whilst Stratford was applying for a branch. From Now Plymouth the delegates proceed to Wanganui, to address the men at the workshops there, Marton, Palmerston North. Wooclville, Napier, Alnsterton, Cross Creek. Upper Hutt. and theme to the South Island.

Mr. Dawson said that the object of tho visit of the delegates was to make matters clear, to remove misapprehensions. and to give all the information required. He was pleased to see such a good attendance, considering the boisterous weather and the counter-attrac-tions. Their visits to other towns had proved satisfactory, and where branches were formed the men were enrolling Ireely. "‘As stage manager of this little tour f will, of course, introduce the star artist.'* He thou called on Air. Wiles to address the gathering.

Mr. AViles said that he whs always pleased \o address the men. on the betterment of their working conditions, and lie considered that joining the reserve was the means of bringing about better conditions among the men. Me staled that tlio opening of the war had aroused New Zealanders. In the early singes of the war a Merman cruiser was actually in sight of New Zealand, It would have been a sorry time for a city if the Mermans had landed, say. ‘*d>oo troops. V‘ie question of forming a National Reserve then cropped up. The idea also originated in Wellington of forming a reserve ni railway men so as properly to control the railway system and also to assist in the protection of New Zealand, should occasion arise. The prime movers in the scheme approached the manager of railways and laid their ideas before him. Mr. Hi Icy agreed t hat .tho.idea was an excellent one. The three railway societies were then apurna'died. and thev also agreed to fall in with the idea, they considering that p would be in the best interests of the men and the Kniuire. It had been stated flint the formation of the reserve would bring the men too much under the Defence Department. Tins was not so. The idea had also arisen that the men of the reserve would be railed out to suppress strikes. This was also a misapprehension. The movement was purely voluntary. A man could join to-day and resign to-morrow if he so desir'd. The object of the reserve was to give ibo men not connected with any other military body trailing for the defence of our country, fn conclusion he s'dd that the reserve might not hr reqnhmd du'Mg tin l present war. but it was impossible to s'>v when it would bo necessary to defend our country. (ApplmiseA Mr. Dawson s*dd that the reserve had the fnM sympathy of Air. Milov, who agreed that the movement would be for the gem] of the men and would create good fellowship, nmirt from tlm oatMe+lc iv*jn+ of view. The membership of the M’ellineton brunch bad reached over IR«t ;md was increasing fast. He stated that the most congenial work wax found for recruits to the rnserve. Membership imposed no liability whoever for active son*me in the exnedTmrmry or territorial jVwcrs and entailed no expense beyond th° purchase of a National Reserve badge (2s) and the annual subscription (‘is (hD. The examinations of candidates- from the reserve for positions as officers and non-commissioned officers were h n ld under the Defence Department. The officers lor branches would he annointed according to their.' efficiency. There was thus no chance of favouritism. (ApplauseA Tie stater! that the Wellington brunch consisted of men from all sections ef the .service, and thev were satisfied that the reserve had created pood fellowship there. Air. Hiley. fie said, was prepared to grant free railway passes to and from the nearest range to bona fide members of the railway section of the reserve at* tcpdin.y ritM competitions and practices. The training would consist, of rudimentary drill, rente marching, lectures. and more particularly instruction in the and practical use ef the rifle. Mr, Dawson said there would be (dassos of instruction in signalling, shooting. physical culture, ambulance work etc. The general manager bad issued Instructions to bedd Morris tubes in the Mg end +he sneaker saw no reason why New rinnouth should cot have one. Me did not exactly k«ow the number of members required before an anplino +km coMd lie forwarded for a tub A , -Twenty-five member wo r e ivimimed tn f*mm a br'»vb. Rifle*. wonM he issued who l * available, but he brandies should not wo’-rv ’f they did not ret them Mt. once, fm* the eovm+ v v wo S in need of nraetie-d'v every rifle. The contingent had been Tor-

wHh the latent pattern of *hn PriH'h rifle ■’”■l + hr» rifles would te available for the rn'Nmv s^ r> - i. rot-* /'f tho Tm l‘ n s -m.l ‘hot M*. TUlov woidfl not loot- for •issr+ r ' v, -''e f''v the 1 nr donmMtlon of tho vpHu"'VR if 7 h°lond wn? attrohed. ho umv hod 'ik f’vn reserve. Tf coMd thus he seer + h«f the \yr*y- umW the reserve wouH be eou fyf 'ui‘ , l to tho mrii. (Annlnns''.) Mr. (VUanghlin smid, with reference to tlio ambulance class. that tho St. John’s class at 'Wellington had boon merged into tho railway section of tlio •vo&ervo. The social side of tho organisation. lie said, was most important, .mart from tho patriotic point of view. Under tlio movement socials, etc., could bo arranged at which the ladies could attend. Thus the movement would create good fellowshii). Ho'concluded hy living JL hi torv of the work done on the tour (ApnlnuscO Mr. Si. (i. Smith said a meeting had hern hold to consider the advisability of forming a branch locallv, hut the information given on the circular issued was’ not considered satisfactory. Tho local railway men had formed themselves into a unit of the New Plymouth Defence Rifle Club. Tilings went all right

fin- ;i cpunle of weeks or so, but then the drill night was changed to Thursday. Tlie majority of the railway-men were working on this night, and so the railway unit hud languished. After hearing the delegates ho was satisfied that all misapprehensions had been cleared, and he now considered it a duty of railway men to join the reserve. Several questions were asked and satisfactorily answered. 31 r. Smith then moved, and 3lr. W. 3V. Thomson seconded, that a branch, of the railway section of the National Jleaerve lie formed. This was carried unanimously. .Mr. S. (!. Smith was subsequently appointed chairman and Mr. F. j. Gardiner secretary of the loenl branch.