RAILWAY SERVANTS' UNION.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12906, 19 February 1906, Page 6

RAILWAY SERVANTS' UNION.

The annual meeting of the Timaru branch of the Amalgamated. Society - of Railway Servants was r held at the railway station. In the unavoidable absence of the chairman (Mr Drummond), Mr H. M. Robertson occupied the chair. A considerable amount of correspondence' was dealt wiUi including two petitions, one from the inanguhua- Miners' Association-- regaining a lock-out of the miners-working at ._ tue Golden Fleece mine; also' & circular t.rcm the. Trades and Labour Council subscriptions towards establishing a consumptive sanatorium in Canterbury. was resolved that substantial aid be S'I'-—- 1 '-—- and lists be circulated,, payable on next railway pay day, towards raising a sufficient sum to forward for both requests. The secretary, Mr C. E. Holmes, read his annual statement -remarking on the progress the branch had made during the year, and that the- Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants was without doubt the strongest- labour union in the colony, both numerically and financially. The 101 l numbers are approximately 4500, witn an accumulated capital in the head office and. branches of about £3500. The - returning officer, Mr F. Swallow's statement of. the result of the recent elections was:—Mr J. M. Drummond reelected chairman; Mr John Hall, ' reelected treasurer by large majorities; Mr J. Williams; re-elected trustee.; and .Mr C. E. Holmes, re-elected secretary, unanimously. Mr H. M. Robertson was unanimously elected vice-chairman, also Messrs. F. Swallow and H. M. Robertson auditors, and the following members of committee: Locomotive. Messrs Leigh and Packer; traffic, Messrs Keddington and Hughson; permanent way, Messrs Mc2s ally and -Dash; Works Department, Messrs Marshall and Henderson. It was resolved to hold a- social gathering amongst the employees in the form of a banquet to" inaugurate the coming into operation of the eight hours a day for locomotive and traffic hands, recently granted by the Minister; also to mark the appreciation of the service generally at the recent increases granted to the lower paid men. A strong working committee was formed, and it was decided to invite the Premier, acting-Minister of Railways, Hon. Hall-Jones, Mr Flatman, M.H.R., and Sir Wm. Steward, M.H.R., the Mayor, and other representative- men to the gathering, including the Geaeral Manager. - As the delegate to attend the Society's bi-ennial Conference, Mr C. E. Hblmes leaves for Wellington at the end of the week, several matters affecting the service ."were discussed with him. A hearty and appreciative vote of thanks to? the acting chairman, Mr H. M.' Robertson, for the very capable manner in which the business of the meeting was conducted, ,was carried by acclamation. The stationmaster, Mr Graham, was treated to a similar courtesy for allowing the use of a sroom in the station buildings for . 'holding the meeting. These proceedings brought to - a termination a very' - enthusiastic meeting. ' ' ■