A GOOD RECORD

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 51, 29 August 1917, Page 3

A GOOD RECORD

EAILWAYMEN AT THE FEONT.

Railwaymen have loyally responded to the call to the colours. In his annual report, submitted through the Minister of Railways (Hon. W. H. Herries) to Parliament to-day, Mr. E. H. Hiley, General Manager, states :—

"From the Ist April until November, 1916, the date the Military Service Act came into operation, -1066 railwaymen, members of. the permanent staff, volunteered for service with the colours. This brought the total number of members of the permanent staff enlisted up to 3000. Taking cognizance of the enlistment of the casual hands who, regularly work for the Department,. the railwaymen already released for military service total 5500, representing 50 per cent, of the normal staff. Prior to November, 1916, the Department had not found it necessary to restrict volunteering except'in the case of a few specially trained expert*, engaged on important duties. The near approach of the busy season for all classes of railway business compelled the Department to reluctantly intimate its inability to agree to the further decrease of the number of trained and experienced hands until after Easter. The Department nevertheless fully realised the vital importance of releasing more men at the. earliest moment, and with that end in view has carefully revised'-the train time-table, and submitted to. the Government proposals having for their object the release at regular intervals of drafts aggregating 1000 additional railwaymen if; that number was able to, satisfactorily pass the military,tests. "The scheme, which necessarily involved curtailment of train services, received a great deal of close attention. All services have been co-ordinated to ensure as far as practicable the least inconvenience to the users of the railways. "The ability of the Department to maintain the normal train services up to the end of the. financial ye'ai in spit 6 of the depleted staff was to a great extent due to the loyal and cheerful service .of all grades of the Railway employees. With the continued enlistment of the staff foi military service to the extent above indicated the curtailed train service under contemplation can only be undertaken satisfactorily during the summer ■ months, when the live stock and grain traffic entails much special running, by the most complete and loyal co-operation of all members of the Railway service. The effort required when the business is heavy in the summer will entail longer hours and considerable sacrifice on the part oi all concerned, and specially upon the de.pleted staff in the traffic working and running branches; but the manner in which the staff have met their obligations in the past leaves no ground for doubt that they will carry out ungrudgingly . their share of the extra obligations thrown upon them on account of the war, and perform their duties cheerfully as a national service."