The Northern Guardian.
Hartlepool, Cleveland, England, 1896-12-25 00:00:00

RAILWAY SERVANTS DINNER.

,----
The annual dinner of the shunter., engine,
drivers, and firemen in the employ of the North.
Eastern Railway Company (West Hartlepool) was I
held last evening at the Raglan Hotel. councillor:
, Loan occupied the chair, and was supported by Me;
R. Martin, Councillor Sergeant, Mt W. 0. •
• Loraine, Mr H. Loraine, Mr J. Gooding, Mr H.
Goodrich, and othera, about 100 being present.
Hoot Squires served up a capital report, and after;
full juetice had been done to it, .
The CHAIRMAN prellmeed "The Queen and Royal ,
Family.' He took that opportunity of wishing them
all a happy Christmas and proepero. New Year, and ,
said he was pleased to be amongst them once more
on that festive occasion. Since they last met he
had to congratulate the railwaymen, particularly of
that district, for the great victory they had
obtained over the North•F.astern Railway Coin.
puny in getting the hours of labour reduced. He
was core that of all kinds of labour the railwaymen
had the most ...Moue and precario., and he
thought so especially of ter what their General
Secretary told them on Sunday lest of the number
of railway serhets who were lame, and the num-
ber killed during the execution of their duty.
He thought they could congratulate themselves
on having obtained great concessions from the
N.E.R. So far as the West Hartlepool Council
and the N. H.R. were concerned, they were certainly!
not in the habit of receiving many thanks from the
Council, and therefore it was a special pleaeure to
him to know that they (the N.E.R. Company) had
done a genera. and noble act in reducing the
hours ef labour. (Applause.)
Mr J. Goomma proposed the .• Army, Navy, and
Volunteers," to which
Quartermaster R. hIARTIN replied.
Mr H. LORAINE (Secretary) proposed "The
Mayor and Corporation," and .
Councillor Lose reepouled, lie referred to the ,
/
new drainage scheme, stid said the necesaity for a 1
new system was due solely to the rapid way in I
which the town was growing. Whatever money
might be spent would be spent for the benefit of 1
the town generally. As to electric lighting it weal
three years since they got the Provisional Order,
and now the matter was being thrust forward.
The Gas Company in West Hartlepool had a great
monopoly, and it was exceedingly desirable that a
better and cheaper light than gee should be
introduced, and the Corporation should be the first
to take the matter up. (Applause.)
Mr R. CoODRICK proposed "Trade and Com-
merce," and
ConocillOr SARGEASIT, in replying, said they
had heard that there wee ample trade in the
shipyards for six monthe to come, and thought that
at the end of that time ordern would come in tol
last another six month. (Applause.) Shipbuilder.,
in the Hartlepools were greatly hindered by the;
North.E.tern Hallway Company. They had ship.
builders who could turn out ships of any sine, but
under present condition. they could not get very :
large chips in and out the docks, and he thought
that the railway company should no longer neglect
the local shipbuilders in this respect. (Applause.)
He had had little trouble, with the North-Eastern,
Railway Company. The goode station might have!
been large enough 20 years ago, but at present it
was only the size of a warehouse for • private,
tradesman. (Hear, hear.) I
Mr R. MARTIN proposed "Success to the '
Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants." He
said he had taken an interest in the welfare of the
railwaymen bravery long time. He had travelled
about the country with Mr Evans and their present
General Secretary (Mr Harford), who was then a
goods guard. He thought the society wee an
excellent one. (Applause.) Before they had trade
wmieties workmen were placed in a very awkward
position, becauee they had to ask for an increase of
wages individually, and it would be refused. No
one could say anything against trades union,
because it was a fair thing to enter. The only '
difficulty with trades unions was when they went too
far and endeavoured to cauee • strike. Strikes were '
necessary evils, but they were not necessary to-day.
While strikes were taking place the country was I
losing no much, and each individual wan losing sol
much. He would not urge a strike. (Applause.)
The last strike will have taken place when work.
men generally join a trader union, became when all
men are members of a trade society the employers
would know what was meant. (Applaueel
Mr W. (I. LORAIN', responded, and said the local
branch hail increseed in member. from /66 last
year to 315 this year. fApplauee.) He hoped the
increase would continue. If they were to receive
any benefits it would be through the efforts of the
: waciety. (Applause.)
• Other toasts followed, and a capital musical and
! vocal programme was rendered.