[W A. VEITCH.

1.-6 a.

22

12 It is no use playing with words. Are you prepared to deny that the members of Parliament have exercised their whole influence for the benefit of the railwaymen in inducing better terms and conditions? —I am prepared to admit that it is my opinion that a great majority of the members of Parliament have done so. 13. Then do you not think that the members of Parliament, working for that purpose, would be likely to have a far greater effect in benefiting the railwaymen than the efforts of the Amalgamated Society ?—No, I do not. 14. Now, how many locomotive-men are there in the Wanganui district, where you live? —1 do not know 15. Can you tell this Committee how many engine-drivers, firemen, or cleaner's there are residing in or about the Wanganui district who are not members of the Engine-drivers' Association? —No, I cannot, 16. Is it a fact that you and one other man represent the whole of the railway servants engaged at Wanganui who are not members of the Engine-drivers' Association? —I cannot answer that question, because I am not a member, and therefore do not know who are members. The Chairman I do not think it is a fair question, because Mr Veitch is here representing the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants : he is not here representing Wanganui or any other- part of the country specially 17 Mr Russell.] The Locomotive Firemen's Union sent you a letter suggesting federation, did they not —it was read by one of your officers ?—Yes. 18. Is it a fact that immediately that letter was. received from them you published that letter, with certain, comments, in the Railway Review? —No, I did not. 19. Well, was it published? —Yes, the letter was published. 20 I will ask you whether you would expect any body of men to continue negotiations when an important letter' dealing with a matter of that kind, directly it was written, was at once given publicity to in the Railway Review? — Yes, I should, certainly I can see no reasonable objection to the publication of the letter, or I certainly would have objected to it being published. I think it is the duty of our association to give all reasonable information to our members. This was a veryhopeful intimation to us, and we were only too glad to give any information to our members. The letter was not marked ' Private ' or " Confidential,' and there was no stipulation that our members were not to know of it. Why should they not know of their own business? Matthew Joseph Mack further examined. (No. 14. 1 Mr Russell.] You stated in your evidence that no industrial agreement had ever been made with the Government because the society had never gone before the Court? —That is so. 2 Then I wish to direct your attention to clause 121, and to ask you whether you are aware that under section 3 the Minister is empowered to make an industrial agreement without any reference to the Court at all? —Yes, we are perfectly aware of that, but what is the good of asking the Minister to make an industrial agreement when he is a party to the award and the maximum wage is already being paid. 3 On two occasions in the course of your evidence you used words to the following effect :If the Government break the arrangement that has been made, it will be the duty of the Amalgamated Society to take other steps to protect the interests of its members. What are the other steps to which you refen?—That is our business, not yours. We have a right to take whatever steps we think fit. 4. Do you consider that a strike would be the other steps ' ?—Certainly not. 5 How long is it since you were in the Railway service? —Two years ago on the Bth April of this year 6 What rank did you hold? —A guard. 7 And your salary?—l was receiving 10s. a day when I left, with a telegram announcing promotion to that of a foreman in my hand. 8. Have you any objection to state what salary you receive now?— Yes, I am not going to state what salary I receive now My position in the Railway- service was that of a guard with twenty-three years' service, and 1 resigned on the requisition of the railwaymen signed by all ranks. 9 What did you mean when you said I was indirectly interested in this inquiry? —Well, sir, you have already- admitted that you are managing director of the firm that prints the paper That firm gets paid for it, and for four issues of that paper your firm received the sum of £55 Bs. sd. 10. 1 am not prepared to contest jour statement with regard to the price, but do you know how many copies were printed? —No. 11 Do you know that 1,400 copies were printed? —No. 12 Do "you know that the paper is sometimes fourteen pages and sometimes sixteen, and that everything except the editorial work is done in my office? —I know your firm is the printer of that paper, and you draw the money for it, therefore I say you are pecuniarily interested, and should not, in my estimation, be advocating the claims of this petition 13 Then, because I, as a member of a printing company receive a job, you say that my mouth should be closed as a member of Parliament? —I say that you stand in. the position of an interested party William Thomas Wilson further examined. (No. 15.) 1 Mr Russell.] You said there were 6,400 members in your society, and 6,013 members on the permanent staff? —6,400 members —I said that was approximate. 2. WHiat about the other 387—how do they come into the society? —The number I quoted was the approximate strength of the permanent staff and on the D.-3 list, The others must be made up from the casual staff, but do not appear on the D.-3 list.