RAILWAY EMPLOYEES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4574, 20 February 1893, Page 4

RAILWAY EMPLOYEES.

A meeting of JRailway employees waa held at the Eailway Station on Saturday night for the purpose of discussing the present position and prospects of the Government Bail way Insurance Bill.- It was decided by a large majority to re-petition the Government to introduce the Bill, and endeavour to paes it through the House next. session. With this object in view, it was resolved that a form of petition, with a circular explaining the necessity for the movement, should be at once distributed amongst ail employees on the Canterbury section of the Railways ; and a hope was expressed that all employees would heartily interest themselves to , make the petition a BUCcesß, and by their united action and support prove' to the Government and country at large that the subject was one demanding an early settlement. The meeting 1 wa3 unanimously of opinion that the subject of insurance amongst railway men was of the first importance, and that the action decided upon would assist largely in its solution. The circular to be issued is as follows: — "This meeting considers that the question of insurance amongst Eailway employees should again be considered by the employeea generally, with a view of impressing upon the Government the necessity of introducing a suitable measure next session. Oar daily experience shows the urgent need for a suitable scheme being brought into operation at an early date. Unless those employees who desire to provide for themselves in this direction exert themselves to ahow the Government and Parliament that they are in earnest, nothing is likely to be done. 16 is, therefore, necessary that we should continue our efforts until a successful issue is arrived at. j We believe that the amended scheme, | published by the Commissioners in their i annual report for 1892, provides for every contingency, viz,— sickness, accident, old ' age and for the family of an employee in the event of his death, in a fairly adequate manner, at a reasonable rate of contribu- ' tion, and we arrive at thia conclusion after a careful study of the various schemes that have been brought forward. Every effort should be made by canvassing, meetings and discussion to bring the subject before all classes of employeos, with the object of getting another petition similar to that of last year presented to the Government, and a suitable Bill passed during the session, giving us the necessary legal machinfey to enable us to provide for sickness, accident and old age. In furtherance of this object this circular is Bent to you, and with it a petition form. We request you to lay this petition before any employee with whom you come in contact for * his consideration and signature. Please return all petition forms, with signatures of employees thereon, to Mr Pilkingfcon, atationmaster, Cflriatchurcb, not later than March 31 noxt. Petitions from the Aahburton and Timaru districts may be sent to the stationmasters, Ashburton and Timaru respectively,' who will kindly forward them to the stationonaster, Chriatohurch." A resolution was pa9Bed empowering the Chairman of tbo meeting (Mr Piikington) to take all necessary steps to issue tho circular, gob the petition signod, and forward it to the Government.