OPEN-CAST COAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 226, 24 September 1945, Page 4

OPEN-CAST COAL

RAILWAYMEN REFUSE TO WORK WITH IT DECISION IN W ANGANUI Wanganui engine-drivers and firemen, as from October 21, will refuse to operate locomotives supplied with open-cast coal. This decision was made yesterday at a meeting of the Wanganui branch >/ the New Zealand Engine-Drivers, Firemen and Cleaners’ Association. It was reported to the meeting that similar decisions have been made at New Plymouth and Hawera. In a statement handed to the “Chronicle” after the meeting, the secretary of the Wanganui branch of the E.F.C.A., Mr. W. Work, said that repeated representations had been made to the department about the unsuitability of open-cast coal which was being used on many engines in the Wanganui district. The men agreed to carry on with it because of tiie war, out now that the war is over they intend not to operate locomotives supplied with this type of coal. It was pointed out that not only did the train crews suffer great inconvenience, but the public was being put to extra expense because of repeated delays, apart altogether from inconvenience caused in travel.

To inquiries made by a “Chronicle” representative it was stated by omer members of the E.F.C.A. that the type of coal the men are objecting to comes from an open-cast mine between Ohura and Taumaruni. It is used mainly on goods trains; never on express trains or on the “Flier,” which have to maintain fast and accurate timetables. Locomotives using (he open-cast coal frequently sto> on the grades in the .Wanganui section of the line, notably "the Westmere bank and other grades between there and Hawera. When the objections to the coal were first raised, the men realised that, as a war measure, they would have to make do with what was offering, but they considered that three months after hostilities ceased would be long enough in which to obtain a type of coal more suited to maintaining the pressure in steam locomotives.

Reactions of the department to the attitude the members of the E.F.C.A. are adopting could not be obtained last night.