A.S.R.S. WILL HOLD ELECTION THIS WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18013, 25 November 1926, Page 8

A.S.R.S. WILL HOLD ELECTION THIS WEEK.

FOUR ASPIRANTS FOR SECRETARIAL POSITION. 'Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON, November 24. The Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants is holding its biennial election during the present week. Members are electing their representatives to Hie conference and also their execu- ' tive for the next two years. In all branches throughout the Dominion, the interest is keen, as the future policy of the society will, to a large extent, depend upon the vote of the members. The election of the executive direct by the members is on trial. In previous years the executive had been elected by and from the conference representatives. The result of the innovation will be awaited with interest. In addition to the election of the conference delegates and the executive, the members of the society will also vote on the appointment of a general secretary. The retirement of Mr M. J. Mack, who has served the society with distinction for the past eighteen years, created the vacancy, for which there are four nominees, namely, Messrs T. Carlyle, of Wanganui, the present president: Mr T. Glasgow, of Auckland, who has had lengthy experience of the position, having relieved Mr Mack at various periods, and who has been a member of the cxecutivte for some years; Mr M. Lee, an ex-member of the executive, who had previously resigned from the society; and Mr L. M’llvride, ex-M.P. for Napier.

Chief interest is centred in the election of the general secretary. The popular opinion appears to suggest that the contest will result in a close finish between Messrs Glasgow and M’llvride. The former will probably receive the support of the traffic and maintenance members, especially in the North Island, where he is best known. Should he be elected, he will fill the position with credit to the society and its members. Mr M’llvride is best knownas a member of the Labour Party during the previous Parliament. He served that party with credit, and he was looked upon as a member of future promise. At the last general election he was defeated. He will receive the vote of a large section of the workshops members, both in the north and elsewhere. Mr Carlyle is also a workshops representative, and he is popular with all sections of the service. During his term as president, he has assisted in the re-organisation of the society, and as his term of office will end next month he should receive liberal support. The previous term served bv Mr Lee is still fresh in the memory of the meynbers of the society. The ballot closes on Wednesday next, December 1, and the result will be awaited with great interest.

For the Executive Council, there ai-e eight nominations for the Traffic and Stores Department in the North Island, six for the Locomotive Workshops Department, four for the Maintenance and two for the Way and Works and Signalling staffs. For the conference, there are four nominees for the Traffic and Stores, three for the Locomotive Workshops, two for the Maintenance and two for the Way and Works and Signal Department in the northern districts, and for the southern districts of the North Island there are three nominees for the Traffic and Stores, two for the Maintenance staff, one member elected unopposed for the Way and Works and Signal staff, and three nominations from the Workshops members. In the South Island, for the Traffic, and Stores representation to the conference there are five nominees, including Messrs S. Schofield and A. W . M’Nickel, of the Christchurch staff, JI. Cox, of Lyttelton, G. Bradbury, of Nelson, and W. Schrader, or Timaru. From the Maintenance Department, the nominees are Messrs T. Chalmers, of Christchurch, R. Alexander, of Waipara, E. Dash, of Timaru, and D. Robertson, of Greymouth. For the Way and Works and Signal Departments, Messrs E. Clemens, of Christchurch, A. M’Cambridge, of Timaru, and J. Fairbairn, of Grey T mouth, are the nominees. For the Locomotive Workshops, Messrs J. Dickson and J. W. Toomey, of Addington, and 11. Macdonagh, of Westport, are the contestants for election, and there are eleven candidates from the southern districts for the conference vote. With a few additions, the same nominees are contesting the various departments for the Executive Council. With such a large number of nominees, the final count will entail a lot of work for the returning officer.