RAILWAY SERVANTS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2841, 27 September 1890, Page 2

RAILWAY SERVANTS.

CIRUULAIt OF THE EXECUTIVE. (UV TEI.ECIRAIMt — PRESS ASSOCIATION). CiliusTciiUiicit, Thursday. Tun Railway Servants' Executive have issued the following circular to members : " In Connection with the Commissioners' circular dated September 18, expressing regret at finding that the proceedings of the executive of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants in the past have been mischievous and injudicious, and declining to recognise or deal with the executive in the future : also pointing nut the basis upon which the society should he reconstructed if it desires recognition by and co-opera-tiou of the Commissioners, W9 wish to draw attention to the following facts, viz.: "1. That the Commissioners recognised the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants as a bona tide union, and pronounced its rules good ana proper. They at the same time were aware of the intention of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants to affiliate with the Maritime Council, and made no protest; that they made certain concessions under threat of calling the men out, and did not at that tiino declare the proceedings injudicious and mischievous on the part of the executive; that they promised to deal with the executive on all matters relating to the society in time to come.

"2. That the executive have tried all in in its power to prevent the society from being drawn into a general strike by remonstrating with tho Commissioners and making special arrangements with the executive ofHceis of the Maritime Council to that effect, and that the Commissioners could easily have avoided the present trouble oy employing non-union labour on the wharves instead of compelling clerks, platelayers, way and workmen, and others to take the place of tho wharf labourers on strike, but that they elected to send men ou the wharves knowing full well that the executive would be compelled by all the principles of unionism, and by their affiliation with the Maritime Cjuucil, to call these men out.

"3. That although the Commissioners speak in strong terms of boycotting as brutal ;iiid degrading they themselves have exercised the boycott in dismissing four of yrmr executive ollicers for refusing to stilltify themselves, and sacrifice their principles as men and unionists, and in refusing to deal with the executivo in future. By carrying out the wishes of the Commission as regards the constitution) of your society such would practically break up the Association, and leave it without power. It is extrumoly unadvisablo to pledge yourselves to agree that your officer* must of necessity be employes in the service. As men you must assert to yourselves absolute right to constitute your own society as you choose. "4. By agreeing that none other than New Zealand Government railway men be members of your society you would throw over the Midland, Manawatu, and other railway men who have so willingly and enthusiastically joined in with you. if those men are not with you what guarantee have you that the Commissioners could not draw upon them under arrangements with the companies to usurp your places in cases of trouble. In casting these men off your society would cease to be an Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants of New Zealand. The work of tho general secretary to a society so large as the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants is such that it is not practicable for an employe to be in the service, and, at the name time to act as secretary, as he must be propared to be called on by the society at all times to proceed where directed. lie must also be a perfectly free agent, competent to light yuur cauoo without foar of disnnma] at the hands of those who might desire to sec your society crushed, or conducted on such lines as would be absolutely useless to you. The Executive would advise evory member to carefully consider tho position in which the Koeiety would be placed were the proposition* of tho Commissioners agreed to, and it urges that emphatic disapproval of reconstruction be expressed by every branch. Rather disband at once than accept so negative a position. Unflinching and determination is [ absolutely necessary in this uur hour of trial, IMlus bo true to ourselves and our brethren, and not forsake those who have in good faith sacrificed their positions in the cause of unionism, bet us stand together firm in our determination on tho side of right, and be just in all requests. "In conclusion, your Executive would state that even as our stand in the past has been firm, it is our desire to be so now, and every means in our power will be used to bring the unsatisfactory state of affairs to a settlement as soon as such can be done with honour to all. A rumour appears to be current that the Executive have made arrangements for a general strike. Such is not the ease, for although a vote was taken i.n tho question, your Executive, after due consideration of the public in general, and the peculiar position of the railway service, refrained, in spite of tho cxcitement prevalent through the service, from resorting to such extreme measures."