BLOCKED LINE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23602, 11 March 1940, Page 9

BLOCKED LINE

STBATFOBD-OKAHUIOJBA THREE MONTHS' WORK CLEARING GANGS NOT SATISFIED [by tklkgkaph —own* couukspondknt] NEW PLYMOUTH, Sunday After a complete examination of tho flood damage on the Stratford-Okahu-kura railway line Mr. G. J. Bertinshaw, chief engineer of Wellington, and Mr. J. Dow, district engineer for Wang anui, consider that it will be at least three months before the line is again open to traffic. Small surface gangs are working all along the lint?, but they are making little impression on a task that demands steam shovels and heavy cranes. Morasses of slush and logs block tho permanent way.

Dissatisfaction with the departmental attitude concerning the rates of pay and conditions of work was expressed by railwaymen engaged in clearing the line when they arrived at Stratford for week-end leave. They stated that two or three stop-work meetings were held during the week. The matters in dispute would be referred to tho Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. One worker said the main grievance was that the officials had departed from the recognised custom when a line was blocked, that the men should be paid time and a-half until the first train went through. It was unpleasant and difficult working in the conditions prevailing. The men often stood in gumboots deep in slush and sometimes, as in the present case, working two 10-hour shifts with night illumination by carbide flares. It was stated that the men were being offered ordinary rates lor 40 hours and time and a-quarter for the remaining 10 hours, the gangs having agreed to work five 10-hour shifts a week. In addition, the food provided by the department for the first week was not now being made available. Several men had left the job, which was not as remunerative as public works employment, while the work was much more disagreeable. It was stated that they had been replaced by public works department employees, some of whom were not satisfied.

HEAVY TOLL OF FLOOD WAITOMO DAMAGE £9700 [from our own correspondent 3 TE KUITI, Sunday Damage estimated at £9740 by the Waitomo County engineer, Mr. R. H. Browne, was caused to county roads and county highways by tlie recent severe flooding. A survey has been carried out by Sir. Browne, and the report has been forwarded to the Public Works Department. County roads suffered to the extent of £S6JO and county highways to £llOO. Large though these amounts are, it was stated that the damage was lighter in Waitomo than in most of the other affected counties. The figures do not, of course, embrace any damage to the State highways.