THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16098, 11 December 1915, Page 4

THE RAILWAY SERVICE.

Sir,—la this morning 5 8 Herald I was ! astonished to find the New Zealand Railway Department advertising lor men from ' j' o ™L years of age as junior porters and traffic labourers. Nothing is said j abort temporary employment, so I presume all the appointments are of the usual nature, that is, permanent if the men i prove suitable. This will be a grave injustice to many young men, who have j been looking for and trying to get emj ployment in the Railway Department but [ have answered their country's call and enlisted. It simply means giving good regular jobs to shirkers. All such posi- } tions should be reserved for and given to suitable returned soldiers. There will be thousands of men coming hack to civil life fully qualified in every way to take up the duties. If the Department wants men they could, and should, make temporary appointments, nutting on men who have dependants, and should also stop men who are physically fit from retiring on superannuation pay. It vjould entail no hardship on these men if kept in their Positions at full pay until the war is over; in fact I know some men who have retired who would willintrly come back in case of need. In the Old Country women are doing a great deal of railwav work and the system might well Tfe extended and used on our railways. There are lots of duties a woman could carry out, and thus release some of the yotrn? men for military service. It is ridiculous for the Government to ask private employers to induce their men to join the "armv and then invite by advertisement men eligible for military service to apply for good positions in the service of the Railway Department. • Soldier's Father. December 9.