M. J. MACK. |

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I.—6A.

37. Mr. Field.\ You spoke of the Unity Conference of last year?—lt was two or three years ago. 38. Who was that organized by?—By the United Federation of Labour. 39. There was some question asked here yesterday as to whether some representatives of the A.S.R.S. had attended before that meeting. Is there any association or connection between the A.S.R.S. and the Federation of Labour? —Absolutely none. 40. Do you say, speaking generally, that the requests that have been made by tradesmen through the A.S.R.S. to the Department have met with success?—l have put in a schedule of two increases of 6d. per day, and the other matters, such as the war bonus, which they participate in, each day's work to stand by itself in the workshop in regard to overtime, increased leave, first-class passes, and extended leave. I could not possibly tell you them all from memory, but if I were to produce to you my index files in connection with that matter you would be astonished. 41. You would not expect to succeed in every case?—We could not possibly do so. We would not have expected to succeed in the demand we were asked to make for an increase of 2s. per day. » 42. Who is the editor of the Review/ —Mr. Wheeler. 43. And he lives in Wellington ?—Yes. 44. Mr. iS'ykes.] What is the present policy and the future policy of the A.S.R.S. in regard to co-operation with outside unions in regard to labour troubles !—I think you will recognize that I have only to carry out the instructions that are given to me by the executive, and they dictate the policy. Mr. Hampton: Might I suggest that as I am president of the society and Mr. Mack is a servant that Ibe allowed to deal with that matter. I intend to go fully into the question, and make it as clear as 1 possibly can what is the present and future policy of the Amalgamated Society. Witness: I might say that if there is anything of any kind or any question of any description hereafter upon which I have the information I will be only too pleased to supply it to the Committee, and to give them access to the whole of the files, of which there are 3,500 in connection with the different matters. I will be only too delighted to give all the information I possibly can.

Richard Moore examined. (No. 7.) 1. The Chairman.] What are you? —I am employed in the Petone Railway Workshops. I have been in the service for seventeen years. lam a member of the A.S.R.S., and a member of the executive council at the present time. 2. Do you wish to make a statement to the Committee ?—Yes, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the A.S.R.S. It has been clearly stated here by the petitioners that the representations made by the executive council on behalf of the tradesmen have not been completely represented. I have represented the tradesmen as workshops representative for something like six years, and I can say that to the best of my ability the questions arising in connection with the tradesmen have received consideration and been represented fully as far as our ability would allow. Reference has also been made to a certain conference that was held in Wellington in 1910. A conference of tradesmen was held here in Wellington in 1910, consisting of representatives from the large workshops in the Dominion. By " large workshops " 1 mean a representative from Newmarket, from the West Coast, Petone, Addington, and Hillside. A scheme was drawn up whereby we could get an increase in wages, and the matter was to be submitted to the General Manager, Mr. Ronayne, at that time by this conference. The conference assembled in Wellington and decided to make representations through the A.S.R.S. Now, 1 would like to say here that we were not successful at that time in getting an increase for the tradesmen, and the matter was then left in the hands of the executive council to push forward the claims of the tradesmen. 1 would like also to say that it has been stated here by the petitioners that they had, to a certain extent, through the action of the executive council in 1915, practically made the tradesmen suffer, or at any rate lose the hope of getting anything done by the present members of the executive council, but up till then intended to remain loyal to the society. Now, sir, f would like to point out here that in 1912 I was Dominion secretary for the Tradesmen's Association, and there was at that particular time a move made in Wanganui for the formation of a separate organization to be known as the tradesmen's organization. Therefore this idea has not been brought forward in a few minutes : it has been on the move for some considerable time. I would also like to say, in regard to Mr. Rowles and his statement about touring the branches for the purpose of bringing the tradesmen together, that at a meeting he addressed at Petone it was distinctly stated by Mr. Rowles that if we could get a sufficient force together —meaning the tradesmen —that they would be strong enough to hold a club over the head of the executive council and get any demand they wanted. Now, Ido not know whether they intended to carry that out at the interview they had with us in May last, but I will say that, so far as the tradesmen are concerned and the representations that we have made, there is no branch that 1 know of in our society which has suffered because we have burked any question or refused to send forward any particular grievance affecting the tradesmen of our organization. In fact, the branch to which I belong has taken a keen interest in the tradesmen's movement, not only for tradesmen but for non-tradesmen who have come along to the branch meeting and put forward a grievance of the tradesmen themselves, so that to a certain extent shows the Committee that whilst it has been stated that some do neglect the requests, speaking of the branch of which I am a member—and I attend the meetings pretty regularly—l can say without fear of contradiction that non-trades-men have been to the branch meeting and put forward requests on behalf of tradesmen. Now,