RAILWAY OFFICERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16331, 21 January 1921, Page 10

RAILWAY OFFICERS.

[Per Press Association-.] INVERCARGILL. January ‘2O. Tho local branch of the Railway Officers’ Institute carried the following resolution unanimously: “That as a conciliation agreement was concluded between the Government aud tho institute. the executive be requested to approach the Government and point out the failure of the Department in many important respects to bring the finding of the conciliation committee iuto operation, although seven months have elapsed since the ratification took place. It is the unanimous opinion of this meeting that no redress is likely to be obtained from the Department and that the agreement is useless unless interpreted' according to the wording and spirit ol the agreement, also that the executive should point out to Mr Masbey that other bodies when unable to obtain redress of their grievances adopt desperato pleasures, which generally have the desired effect, whilst the institute, bv adopting constitutional methods, is" generally left in the lurch, which is no encouragement to a constitutional body.’* \

A representative of the M ellington firemen stated to a " Post ’ reporter on Wednesday: “Me went along and had a further interview with Mr M’Villv yesterday. He received us most courteously and sympathised with us in the quality of the coal we are called upon To handle. He coni plained that- the time which we had given him to reply to cur demands was insufficient,' especially considering that the Chief Mechanical Engineer was away. Wo pointed out that he had already been warned that the men were inclined to take drastic action unless something could be done for them. Mr .H’V illy agreed to recall the Chief .Mechanical Engineer immediately, aud said he would* let uh know of the Deportment's decision by noon on Saturday.’* A representative fireman stated that the coal complained of was Australian, Vancouver, and Japanese. This coal, lie said, was very inferior, although they did not complain about its steaming qualities. However, it was extremely dirty to handle, and after eighteen to twenty miles the fires became choked, and had to be cleared out. Whereas with normal coal it was only necessary to clean the fires twice in a shift., they now had to be cleared out as often as seven or eight times. This meant a great strain on the firemen and extra wear and tear on their clothing. It was important to note that the amount of clinker and ashes removed from tho yards previously was four or five truck loads per week. The weekly total now is about fifteen or sixteen truck loads. “ in turn sympathise with the Department,” said the “ Post’s ” informant. “Wo have no desire to make capital out ot t-h<fe Department’s coal difficulties. If they supply us with good coal we will ask for no extra, concessions. We want to be as loyal, to the Department and to the public as we were during the Christmas holidays, when, despite inferior coal, wo kept the 1 rains running to time. We are now asking for 3d per hour extra—2s per day—and wo do not think our demand is excessive.* ‘ The Wellington firemen have been guaranteed the full support of the en-gine-drivers. So far no other branch of the E.K.t A. has taken the. drastic stop decided upo-i by Wellington.