THE STAFF SYSTEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12303, 22 June 1903, Page 4

THE STAFF SYSTEM.

The recent dismissal of two railway servants, a driver and a guard—the latter having served faithfully for nearly 25 years on the New Zealand railwaysraises the question as to whether the Premier has the right to disorganise the ordinary running of express trains on the New Zealand lines to the extent of compelling them to wait at flag stations for a " special goods" to pass. It is true that Mr. Seddon's special was, at the time of the alleged neglect of instructions, returning as a goods train, but this only makes it all the more inexplicable, inasmuch as a goods train, special or otherwise, should be compelled to wait for an express, and not vice versa. The neglect of instructions by the driver and guard was wrong, for it might have led to serious consequences, but it would seem that there is great need of reform in the matter of signalling and instructing drivers and guards of trains on the Auckland section, and the adoption of the system —known as the staffat present in vogue on the Wellington-New Plymouth line would have obviated the recent trouble on the Waikato line, and should be at once instituted here, not only for the safety of the travelling public—who certainly have more claim to the right-of-way on the railways than Mr. Seddon's specialsbut also to facilitate the quick working of the northern sections, which the rapid growth of passenger and goods traffic demands. The staff system, which divides the line into sections, makes it impossible for one train to go on to another section until " Line clear !" is signalled and the staff released from the machine, the whole being worked from one centre. The driver takes charge of the staff and delivers it up at the next station. It is practically a warrant for his being on that section.