DANGEROUS WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 171, 20 July 1923, Page 6

DANGEROUS WORK.

» MAIN TRUNK ENGINE-DRIVERS. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. In declining to consider a suggestion from Mr. \V. Glenn (Rangitikei) that he take into consideration the question of granting engine-drivers and firemen on the Main Trunk line an extra allowance while engaged upon specially dangerous I work, the Hon. J. G. Coates (Minister of Railways) stated that the exigencies of the railway service necessitate trains being run on all main lines throughout the country during any portion of day or night. Conditions similar to those obtaining on the Main Trunk are to be found in other parts of the Dominion and on both North and South Island Mam Trunk lines. It would, therefore 'be invidious to make a distinction in favour of men running night trains on any one section of the railway Mr. J. S. Dickson (Parnell), commenting upon the Minister's reply, said there were v«-y few first-class drivers on the Mam Trunk express engines, because the •barrier was so great. Only 25 per cent of the engine-drivers were allowed into the first class, and consequently men were too old for the position, and their nerves were too much strained for them to drive Main Trunk expresses when they got to the first grade. That barrier _£!•♦-"# °? y *l Ues _-- on *-*** w »s causing ! dissat.sfact.on so far as the enginemen'f , association was concerned. When he represented that association in the ArbiW% C % rt tH r- P"-----P--l «ght was Dn that difficulty. Rut they did not tret it removed. He hoped th/MtauK fouW whl *l T -! he . neceßs % *or doing away with the barrier, and thereby allow men after experience and qualification, to be promoted into tne first-class grade and so secure the higher ' " Mr. W H Field (Otaki) remarked during the discussion of the question that the reply was disappointing The°e men took their lives in their hinds' and rXue 8 r Biblllty "** * be -*£