CORRESPONDENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 18, 22 January 1937, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE

TRANSPORT RULES

HOURS OF DRIVERS

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—lt would appear that all the legislation the Minister of Transport has brought into being with a view to making the roads safer for the public has not had the effect it should have, nor, in my opinion, will it ever solve the problem so long as it is not enforced in Government Departments. The Government bus drivers were working during the Christmas period as many as 16i hours over a period of 184 hours, or had to be on the job for 18£ hours out of 24 hours. When these drivers complained about working such long hours, they were told by the foremail that he would work them 24 hours out of 24 if he wanted to. Then they went to the manager and laid the same complaint, and were threatened with dismissal. These men are in a very awkward position, for they cannot afford to lose their jobs, and on the other hand, they are liable to prosecution for failing to carry out the regulations. In view of the Minister's warning that he would not spare the rod on the careless driver or the employer who worked his men contrary to the regulations, will he see that Government Departments carry out his instructions and show others an example of how it should be done? —I am, etc., SYMPATHISER.

On the matter being referred to th< General Manager of Railways (Mr. G H. Mackley), he stated that the cor respondent's letter was misleading, anc in some respects contrary to fact. Th< actual position, stated Mr. Mackley, wa: that shortly before the Christmas holi day period the bus department engagec eight additional drivers to meet thi likelihood of increased traffic with : view to keeping the hours of th< drivers down to reasonable limits or days such as Christmas Eve, Nevs Year's Eve, and New Year's Day, wher the trafiip was likely to be very heavy Arrangements were also made that n( special hire work would be undertaker until after Christmas Eve so as to en sure that all drivers and vehicles woulc be available for. the suburban business Coincident with the introduction of th( Passenger Transport Drivers' new award, operating as from December 21 payment on the basis of a 40-hour wee! was introduced. However, in accord ance with what the award permits anc the practice usually followed on sue! special occasions, the ordinary scheduli hours were, on Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day, some what exceeded in the case of a few shifts. An inspection of the time-boot reveals that for 14 days, from Decern ber 20 to January 2, out of a total o: 700 shifts, 641 worked 11 hours oi under, the majority of whom workec an eight-hour shift only. No drivei actually worked hours, as statec by "Sympathiser," or was on the jot 18J hours out of the 24, although ir one instance a driver did work foi 15J hours, and in all cases, irrespectiv< of the period of work, a break of a least ten hours was allowed betweei the shifts. Any shifts worked in ex cess of the ordinary schedule of eigh hours per day were confined to th< three days -mentioned, i.e., Christma Eve, New Year's Eve, and New Year; Day, except in a few isolated case ol The statement imputed to the fore man that he would work the men 2' nut of the 24 hours if he wanted t< is obviously contrary to fact, anc denied by the foreman, as the regula tions governing this aspect of thi Department's business are observec both in spirit and in fact, excepting ii unavoidable cases of extreme urgency The statement that the men went t( the manager, and as a result of laymf -he same complaint were threatenec with dismissal, is definitely denied, al though on the night of Christmas Ev< tour of the men did complain to th< assistant foreman that they should no ae asked to work more than a 14-houi shift. Mr. Mackley stated that the genera .rend of "Sympathiser's" letter woulc nake it appear that the _ Railway Department was not complying witl he regulations issued by the Ministei )f Transport, and he would like to re ■nove this impression by giving it i lefinite contradiction. The fact thai ,he Department had. on the three days •eferred to, found it necessary in a few solated cases to work their bus staff or more than 11 hours to meet the josition that had somewhat unexsectedly arisen was brought to the lotice of the Transport Department, vhose officers, in the circumstances, iccepted the explanation.

DAVIS STREET RAILWAY

CROSSING

(To the Editor.) Sir,—With the New Year and good resolutions being made, I hope the Railway Department will make one, to push on. with the construction of the ramp to do away with the Davis Street railway crossing. The crossing keepers there have not a job to envied. There is no clear view of trains coming or going, and they must be on pins and needles all the time. Could nothing be done to make this crossing more safe and to give these chaps a chance? In case of a serious accident I would like to ask who is going to get the blame? —I am, etc., OBSERVER.

On the matter being referred to the General Manager of Railways (Mr. G. H. Mackley) he stated that the closing of Davis Street crossing .would take place coincident with the opening of the new station and that in accordance with the arrangement entered into with the Wellington City Council and the Department following on the discussions and agreement entered into regarding the construction of what is commonly known as the Thorndon Ramp providing access between the new Waterfront Road and the Hutt Road, a footbridge for pedestrian traffic would replace the level crossing giving access from Thorndon Quay to the goods shed in Waterloo Quay. In so far as the duties of the crossing keepers are concerned, there is no such dim| culty as that inferred by "Observer, as the member in charge of the signal box, and who has accurate knowledge of the departure and arrival of every time-table or special train, indicates to the crossing keeper by means of an electric bell the approach of either in-1 coming or outgoing trains in ample time to enable the crossing keeper to take up his position on the crossing and give the necessary indication to road traffic. In so far as the movement of shunting trains is concerned, in addition to the movement of these trains being protected by the crossing keeper the shunters themselves pilot these trains across the level crossing and observe very closely the movement of road traffic.