RAILWAYMEN'S THREAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17700, 8 February 1921, Page 6

RAILWAYMEN'S THREAT.

— i«» DRIVER REDUCED IN GRADE. REINSTATEMENT DEMANDED. | iBT TEtEGBAPK. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.! j DUNEDIN, Monday. Punishment imposed on a driver has caused trouble among members of the locomotive branch of the railway service, and a strike is threatened. It was charged against the driver that he started a train from Port Chalmers starting signal had not been given by the semaphore in the station yard. The men state that no question of endangering the public was involved in the starting of .the train, and, moreover, the guard of the train had given the starting whistle to the driver. As a result of an official inquiry, it is said, the station-master at Port Chalmers was severely reprimanded, a signalman and a shunter were each fined £1, and the guard was exonerated. In the case of the driver the decision of' the Punishments Board was that he should be reduced" for six months to the rank of fireman. A special meeting yesterday of the local branch of the Locomotive Men's Association passed the following resolution: — " That unless our executive gets Driver Barclay reinstated as a driver, we intend in a body to cease work at midnight on Wednesday as a protest against the drastic punishment dealt out to this member." The general secretary to the association, the Minister for Railways, and the general managex have been advised accordingly. , . WARNING BY ME. MASSEY. HOPES FOR WISER COUNSELS. [by telegbaph.—press association.] WELLINGTON, Monday. Regarding the threatened railway strike at Dunedin, Mr. Massey has sent the following : —" Your telegram received. You must know that the proper and constitutional method of dealing with any grievance is through the executive. Barclay may take the case to the Appeal Board, which will probably sit in the South Island next week; or he may appeal direct to the General Manager or Minister. The passing of a danger signal, thus involving the public safety, is a serious matter that cannot be passed over. I hope that wiser counsels may prevail, and that a more satisfactory course than that suggested will be adopted; but please understand that the responsibility for anything that may take place rests with you and those on whose behalf you forwarded the telegram."