ENGINE-DRIVERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 112, 7 November 1908, Page 6

ENGINE-DRIVERS.

V Xft TJHB EDiTOB.. Sir,—What's troubling the secretaiy of marine engineers that he has boen undertaking a crusade throughout the Dominion? Doea he think the locomotive engineers are trenching on his preserves when thoy are allowed to make use of their examination certificate to take charge of a stationary boiler, as allowed by the passing of an amendment to the Machinery Act last session? It -is thought by the general public that the marine engineers are a close corporation; their present action proves it when their organising secretary federates the different unions for the express purpose of inducing the Government to repeal or -alter the amendment to the .Machinery Act. ' Why they should be the only body qualified to draw examiners from, passes my comprehension. The Governmont ha-s every Tight to think as highly of their own railway officers' abilities in the mechanical department as' examiners, and the subjects placed' before candidates are just as hard to answer as in marine work. If he thinks he is going to get tho Act altered to suit his complexion, he will find out his mistake. The locomotive men throughout Nerw Zea land are not going to stand any of that norusenae. It was only justice, and tardy s«6tice, whon the law was altered to allow a locomotive engineer's certificate to qualify him to take charge of a stationary engine. Fancy a locomotive engine-man, with his varied experience, working every day with all sorts of boilers and machinery, having passed three strict examinations, unable to go outside of the railways and drive a donkey boiler, unless he passed a marine engineer's examination! Why, the thing is absurd! Before the passing of the amended Act, if he over-ran a crossing, or passed a signal at danger, he was thrown out of employment in the railway service; and to enabl« him to follow his ordinary vocation he had to prepare himself, and probably wait months to sit 'or the marine examination—all this time he is o«t of work. I think when the time comet, tho press and public won't see the Act altered to pmt the (selfish wishes of any union to belittle a capable body of «n.-I am, etc., Wellington, 4th November, 1908.

An afternoon tea was given by Mrs. 0. W. Palmer at her residence, Goldie's Biae, in honour of Lieutenant Knox, R.N. Among those present were Miss Ewing, Miss Medley, Mrs. Davis, Mrs. (Dr.) M'Lean, Dr. and Mrs. Knight, Dr. Browning, E.N., Lieutenant Seymour- Venoine, and Fe_v~ J, Moore,