“SEETHING DISCONTENT”

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 13094, 16 February 1937, Page 4

“SEETHING DISCONTENT”

LOCO BRANCH OL- RAILWAY DRIVERS’ HOURS TOO LONG RESOLUTIONS OF PROTEST '’Press Association') GHR TSTCH URCH, Feb. 15.,' Responsible officials of tlic railwaymen’s • organisation in Canterbury state that there is grave discontent among the locomotive drivers in the service over their conditions of work, particularly the long hours they are’ being called on to drive trains. A. resolution which has been passed- by the Canterbury branch of the Locomotive Drivers’, Firemen’s, and Gleaners’ Association calling Tor an investigation into the administration of their department, mentions the “seething discontent” which, it is said, exists throughout the service, and from statements made by the men, there arc general signs of alarm about/the situation. It is even suggested that, if the Department continues its present- system of work ing the locomotive men. its long record of' safety might be endangered.

In Canterbury, the situation has been brought to- a head hy a demand in Auckland for a public enquiry into the collision between ' the Auck-land-AVcdlington goods;, train and the New Plymouth, express. The Canterbury branch of the association held a meeting on Sunday and passed a resolution unanimously endorsing the action of the Auckland branch in calling on tlie executive council to press for a public enquiry iuto the collision, “the Canterbury branch, not having any confidence in the enquiry boards as at present set up by the Department, nor their procedure at- such, enquiries.” The meeting also passed the following resolution :

“We further call upon the executive council to press for a common to investigate the whole administration of the locomotive department or that the conditions of the locomotive 'men in general be placed before the Prime Minister, as wo view with great alarm the seething discontent existing among tho locomotive men throughout the -service.”