Rail stoppage may spread

Press, 19 August 1977, Page 4

Rail stoppage may spread

PA Auckland; A strike which has stopped All Auckland suburban rail '•ervices has spread to other areas today. There were no suburban rail services in Auckland last evening, and peak-hour services this morning will be cancelled because of the) stoppage by guards and) signalmen.

The men are protesting about the findings of a Board of Inquiry into the Newmarket train" crash, and disciplinary action taken against some of their colleagues since the accident report was released. The members of the National Union of Railwaymen decided to stop work at a ■ three-hour meeting yesterday morning. They will meet again at 10 a.m. today to decide on any further action. National officials have been asked to take over the dis- ■ pute. Two signalmen and a guard were ordered last week to resit examinations as a result of the inquiry. The union had believed they would resume normal duties I if they passed. Although the signalmen) have passed their txam-l

inations, they have been put on six months probation, under supervision. The guard involved failed to pass his examination and has been transferred to the position >f head shunter in the Auckland yard. “I think the whole thing! stinks — everyone should; let the matter drop.” This was the plea from; Mrs Brian Farmer, the' widow of the engine driver) killed in the head-on rail) collision at Newmarket in) March. Mrs Farmer called : for an end to all industrial action which resulted from the crash and the subsequent inquiry. “I feel it could go on forever,” she said. “People should let the matter drop, because it is causing a lot of emotional strain on me and my family.” Skyhawks in Aust.. 1 Eight Skyhawk jets from the Royal New Zealand Air Force base at Ohakea will fly to Australia on Monday to take part in a combined air defence exercise with elements of the Australian [Forces and the Republic of I Singapore Air Force.