RUMMY RAILWAY RULES.

NZ Truth, Issue 93, 30 March 1907, Page 6

RUMMY RAILWAY RULES.

A Memo, for McAndrew.

In its wisdom the Railway Department has a regulation that no more than two members of one family can work onr the: line, or or iv the- sheds, or, about the puff-puff premises at all. No doubt there's something m this rule which is wise, although it isn't at first apparent to the, lay mind. Anyhow, if it's good m one case, it's goad m another, .and the allegation is that the Department doesn't always think so. Rumor hath it that, despite, the rule aforesaid, a batch of five brothers, are at present employed m capacities on the line m the .South Island, but as they are a Int above the ordinary common or igarden ' platelayer, guard, or porter, or casual, nothing is said about shifting three of them out of it. On the other hand, m the case of those lower "down" the railway scale the "two only" regulation is enforced with the pressure of a Westinghouse brake every blessed time. F'rinstance, an old chap tried to stop a train by brute force at North Lane, Addingtoh, and retired for repairs. He already had . one son on the railway, and when the accident happened, another son took- his place. Eventually the father was patched -up sufficiently ,to return to work, and the second son under the M two only" rule, had 'to retire from the service altlTough he had been doing his work m a satisfactory -manner. The two cases don't exactly coincide with the usual idea of fairness, and perhaps Mr McAndrew,, the District Engineer, whom the men class as a good chap, will look into it. Making flesh of one, and fowl of another isn't good enough, and Southern railway workers are at the present time saying so m a loud tone of voice.