ENGINE-DRIVERS' CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15512, 12 February 1916, Page 4

ENGINE-DRIVERS' CONFERENCE.

YESTERDAY' S PROCEEDING S. The Conference of tho New Zealand Locomotive Engine-drivers', Firemen,and Cleaners' Association resumed yesterday morning. A number of matters of detail wcro discusscd. Decisions arrived at -included the following:— That Grand Council use every endeavour to reach an understanding \, ith other railway societies, with a view to organising for political purposes and general scrvicc. conditions. That iiguite coal bo abolished on engines on tho Dunedin section. That a war bonus of Is per day be granted on account of. the increased cost of living. It was decided to protest against the svstcm of punishment bv lines. 'it is, it was stated, the practice of the Department to line men anything up to £2-3 for offonces. For instance, a man who may be booked to come •..» dutv at a.m., does not wake in time, and is late. The result is that, although he is only a few minutes late, lie may be lined liis day s pay. This is considered very unjust, especially m view of tho present high cost ol living. On tho other" hand, an engine-driver who may save a big collision, thereby saving lives and thousands of pounds worth of propertv, is perhaps commended, which, in tl'ie face of punishments for offences, seems a very meagre reward, and is only equal to a reprimand or a • very trivial offence. I It was decided to make strong representations to tho Department regarding Wie stopping of cleaners' pay for unsatisfactory work, tho practicc being that the cleaner who usually gets j os tid for a night's work, and is, m j the majority of eases, stationed away j from home, having to pay his own board, having a portion of his time deducted if, in tho opinion of the night | foreman, his work is not satisfactory, i This is not considered fair or just, and j savours of tho sweating system. It is j not done in any other section of the j Public Service, and the. Grand Conn- ■ cil considers that it should be at once j abolished. It was decided to make an effort to get men paid extra money as meal allowance when they' are 011 duty for ten hours or more, it being contended that food carried in the heated atmosphoro or engine cabs is really uneatable. This allowance is granted to members of the first division, New Zealand Railways, and also to locomotive members in Australia, and it is only fair that it should t be allowed to locomotive men in New ! Zealand, who have to work shifts at j times of anything up to eighteen hours. It was decided to urco that men who nrc stationed in isolated places, viz., New Zealand Main Trunk, be given an opportunity to transfer at the end of a given term if thev so desire. Tho Department finds it difficult to fill these positions, owing to tho isolated position and the strenuous nature of the work, and men who are put there find it very difficult to get away v and consequently life is of the humdrum order. Tho oonferenco adjourned till this morning.