RAILWAYMEN

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 32, 7 February 1921, Page 8

RAILWAYMEN

TROUBLE AT DUNEDIN

- !A STRIKE THREATENED.

(II TBLtSRAM.—WMI «SiCIATieS.)

DXJNEDIN, This Day,

Punishment imposed on a driver has aaused troublft among members 'of the locomotive branch of the Railway Ser : vfce, and a strike is threatened. It was charged against the driver that he startled a train from Port Chalmers when the starting; signal, hail not. been given by \ semaphore in the station yard. It is urged that no question of endangering the public'was involved in the starting of the train, and that, moreover, the guard of the train had given the starting whistle to the driver. As vthe result of an-- official inquiry, it is stated the _»fiitionmaster. at Port Chalmers was severely reprimanded, the signalman and a'shunter each fined £1, and the gua-rd exonerated. In the case of the driver, the decision of the Punishments BoaTd was that he should be reduced for six months to the rank of fireman. tA special meeting yesterday .of the' •Ib'cal branch of the Engind^ivers, Firemen and Cleaners' Association , passed the following motion : .."That, unless our .executive gets' Driver Barclay reinstated as/ driver, we intend in a body to oease wprk at midnight on Wednesday, as a protest against -. the ■■ drastic punishment dgalt out to.this member."

Th-e general secretary of the E.F.C.A., the Minister for Railways, and the General Manager,have been .advised: accord-, irtgly. * ,~r v ; ;'.; •■-.■ v ;. '.. ' . -