Railway Insurance Conference.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4704, 24 July 1893, Page 3

Railway Insurance Conference.

The Deputation to the Premier, FPer Pbess Association.] WELLINGTON, 3*ji.y 22. A-t ;ttha interview between the Bailway Commissioners and railway delegates today, the Secretary of the railway insurance conference made a statement with regard .to the assertion that had fceen made in Borne .quarters that the delegates did not represent <tke employees. Be out that the representative feom Auckland , was a yard (foreman, while the delegates from Efapier,, Hawera, Paltsaeraton North and Wanganui were station mastere. Wellington Bent a clerk, a station master and a fitter from the workshops, Christchurch an inspector and carpenter, Timaru a clerk, Osmaru & signalman, Dunedin a < jßtoreman, guaid and night f oremao in Ahe locomotive sheds, and Invercargill a cbrk. Several of the delegates were members of fche Railway Union, and one was Secretary" of a branch. Aft had feen elected, either &6 public meetings of the employees held in the chief centres of their respective districts, or by Committees elected by such puWic meetings, with powe* to do their utmost, and advaDce the inauraace proposals. In only three instances, viz., Christchurcb, Dunedin and Palmeratoh Norfcb, had tha latter mode of election been adopted, all the others having

been elected at public meeting, which all employees were invited to attend. Several sections, viz., Greymouth, Westporfc, Nelson and Whangarei were represented by a deputy, it being inconvenient for them to send anyone to the Conference. On the delegates arriving in Wellington it was found that the men at the Petone shops and others employed in Wellington were unrepresented, and a delegate was I accordingly elected at a large meeting of i employees. The delegates did not pre--1 tend to represent thoae who were entirely • opposed to the insurance scheme, but they did claim to represent thoee who saw urgent need for it, and they contended ' that a large majority oE railway men re- ' cognised the necessity of and were in sympathy with the movement and with the | objects of the conference. The Secretary I pointed out that the hopes of the railway men generally, from Auckland to the Bluff, wore centered on tho results cf the conference; and it was to be regretted that a few opponents to the scheme should endeavour to disparage the efforts of their fellow employees in a work which should produce groat results. He also emphasised the fact that no employee would be compelled to contribute under the Bill if it became law. WELLINGTON, Jttlt 24. A deputation from the Eailway Insurance Conference, accompanied by Mr M'Kerrow, Chief Eailway Commißaioner, waited on the Premier this morning. In reply to a question by Mr Seddon, Mr M'Kerrow said that the Conference had been held with the approval of the Commissioners. Mr Gray, Secretary to the Conference, explained that the amendments in the Railway Insurance Bill proposed by the Conference, and the opinion of the Commissioners differed. He said it was their desire to have a Bill bo framed that it would give satisfaction to all grades and classes of the service. Personally! he knew that the whole service agreed with the principle of the measure, and if Government would secure its passage through Parliament it would receive the thanks and support of the Service generally. Mr M'Kerrow explained that when the rules and regulations were fixed it would cost very little to carry out the effect of the Bill. He said that the Commissioners were anxious for some scheme that would obviate application being made to the Commissioners and Government for compensation in every case of accident, as was done at present. The Commissioners wished the scheme proposed by the Bill to be self-supporting, and with a State guarantee, but the Conference desired a Government subsidy on the contributions. That was, to the Commissioners' mind, the oruoial point of the Bill. Taking the present strength of the service, the subsidy would amount to a little more than JBSOOO annually. Mr Seddon, in reply, said that he would object in toto to the proposal to allow men to increase their contributions for the purpose of increasing the amount of their retiring allowances, as such provision would be entirely to the advantage of the beat paid men in the service. Mr Gray interjected that the proposal had emanated from the shunters. Mr Seddon : Then they are asking for an utter impossibility. Mr Seddon continuing said that the action of the delegates in meeting to frame legislation on their own behalf was one that he did not altogether agree with at first, but as it was with the sanction of the Commissioners, he had- nothing more to say. It must be borne in mind that the whole Government service had to be considered, and not one branch, and Government could not legislate piecemeal. Here was one branch of the service asking for a subsidy of £5000 per annum, and what was done to one branch might fairly be claimed by another. The admission that the Friendly Societies and Insurance Companies could do all that the Bill provided mußt be seriously considered, as the Government must take into account the effect which the Bill would have on these institutions. This phase of the question was a very serious one. What, he asked, might be the effect of the withdrawal of a large number of members from the Friendly Societies, especially in face of the statement that some of the latter were not very stron g financially. Government must look at this side of the question, as in the event of a disastrous result it would receive blame. It was admitted, however, that something required to be done in regard to many features of the Bill, and Government was desirous of doing this something. He would place the views of the delegates before his colleagues, and ask the Commissioners to get the proposals contained in the Bill submitted to actuarial computation. A fair time should be given every man in the service tojeonsider the proposals, and if any objected they should have 'the support of the meeting in saying so. Government would not act hastily in a matter of such great importance. The Bailway Conference has closed. The Secretary was instructed to Bend letters of thanks to the Commissioners, the Chairman and Messrs Eotheram, Triggs and Donne. Saturday's telegram with regard to clause 5 should have read "It was agreed to rescind the amendment proposed by the Conference." .