RAILWRY ENGINE-DRIVERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 47, 20 February 1912, Page 3

RAILWRY ENGINE-DRIV-ERS.

r .i TURD ANN UAL CON PER EN CE. (Per Press Association.) Christchurch, February 20. The third annual conference of the Now Zealand Locomotive Engine Drivers, Firemen and Cleaners’ Association concluded its sitting on Saturday. The following report had been supplied by Air W. AicArley, general secretary,:— Resolutions were carried asking the Government to pay locomotive men tife same wages as are paid in Australia. It was pointed out during the discussion that cleaners’ wages

had no'b increased in the minimum since the time of the commissioners. A great amount of feeling was expressed in regard to the wages paid to drivers and firemen, and it was pointed out that their wages had been increased only by Gd over the rates paid during the period the railways were controlled by the commissioners. At tiie same time, it was generally conceded that some of the conditions had been improved, whilst others had been curtailed. Allowances of standing time, and preparing engines and putting them away had been decreased since the time of the commission-

It was contended that a genuine grievance existed in regard to the treatment meted out to New Zealand loco, men as compared with Australian loco, men, despite statements to the contrary. It was resolved that steps bo taken to bring the grievances of engine drivers, firemen and cleaners prominently before Parliament and the public if the Goveminent of the day will not recognise the claims of the association to: equitable treatment. The conference expressed the opinion that the presen! Minister of Railways had done all ii his power to ensure the better treat ntont of loco. .men. It was furthei resolved to ask the management t< allow the men'to come'to some agree rnent with the management regard iug wages and conditions of labour i. the same way as is done by music!-, unions and employers, any agreemon arrived at /to be 'binding on hot parties. Ths Delegates EifclerJ'airi-sd. The delegates to ,tbe, conference were entertained at a social gather chg bn' Saturday, night by members o tad Canterbury branch of ; the assopia _ Mr G. Brown, ex-president, stated that the membership was now botweei thirteen and fifteen hundred, a growtl in three years which was somethin;, to be proud cof; •" m Jn-'Awstnvlia on gine drivers’ wages had recently beci increased 'to 16s, ■which, enmpar-a v,ifli 13s ,6d paid in New 1 Zealand showed tlie loco, men C he badly treated.- He hoped the Ncv Zealand Association would he ,ablto secure for drivers the same rate; ns were ruling in Australia. There would ho probably a change of Gov eminent. They did not know wha that would mean, but hoped it wonh not mean a set-back to loco. men. H wanted to see railway men advance and didn’t sec why they should not.During the evening .representative: of the (Officers’ Institute and Am alga mated Society spoke, congratulatin' the association on the success attain cd. The speakers on behalf of tin association advocated separate uni ■nus in the railway service, and a fed oration of all these, and this mc ; with the approval -of the represent;! fives of other branches of the servic present. , Air S. Kennedy, president of tin association, on behalf of the mom hors of all its branches throughon the Dominion, presented Mr Georg Brown .with a gold watch and a neck let for Mrs Brown, and also pro seated Mr W. ,McArley, general secretary of the association, with a ,goh watch and travelling bag, and a sc of brushes and .mirror for Mrs Me Arley. In making the presentations' Mr Kennedy said that subscription: bad' been spontaneously given fron one end of the Dominion to the of he' in recognition of the valuable service; rendered by Messrs Brown and Me Arley in the formation of the associn