DOMINION LOCOMOTIVE ASSOCIATION.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14903, 17 February 1914, Page 3

DOMINION LOCOMOTIVE ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The Conference of the New Zealand Locomotive Engine-drivers'. Firemen's, and Cleaners' Association was resumed yesterday in tho Trades Hall, Mr S. Kennedy presiding.

Tho report supplied stated that tho Grand Qbuncil had considered the present system of compu'.sory retirement from the superannuation i'iind upon retiring from the service a distinct hardship, inasmuch as its deleted benefits amounted to a punishment of the members concerned. The Cou"eil held that an insurance fund should be governed by commercial principles and a contributor onco admitted should haro the option of continuing his contributions until bis policy expired. At preseut, members retiring at their, own option or by direction only received the actual money they had paid in, minus interest. It was a matter of speculation whether the fund would l»enefit a contributor, for at the last moment, after forty years' sen-ice, misadventure might deorive a member from participation in thc benefits. The Council required a more equitable control and a definite benefit clause, independent of thsd vagaries of tho servico a member engaged on. The Council was dissatisfied with the present medical examination for departmental requirements, and held that tho member interested should have the choico of doctor, so as to be in lino with the present practice of the Department in nominating the medical officer they required. It was understood that under the present reading of tho Workers' Compensation Act, employers must-pay for all the certificates required to detect, a malingerer, hut in contravention of the wording of the Act, tho Department asked the employee to carry the double burden of expense.

ill view of the recent Aisgill disaster being attributed to the use of inferior coal unduly harassing an engine crew in tho more important matter of attending to public safety, and the fact that thero was an ■-improvement urgently needed in the standard of coal supplied .to the New Zealand Government Railways, the Council were making special representations to tho Department to remove tho trouble, and so avert a' looming danger. It was tTged that for public (safety there must be adequate holler power with suitable coal. The practice of supplying coke in substitution for coal at Franjcton iv particular was causing estrenie anxiety to the men. Alteration to the constitution and rules were considered, and an address was delivered by. Miss Mitchell, of the Social Democratic Party.