SHELL-SHOCK AND CEREGEN.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16036, 29 January 1920, Page 8

SHELL-SHOCK AND CEREGEN.

¥ Shell-shock demonstrates bow dependent the health of the body is upon the nerves. Overtaxed by war strain, the breakdown occurs in the thumder of bombardment, the nervous system reaches breaking strain, and collapses. Nervous complaints aro the same, hut in lesser degree. All arise from overtax and failing energy, Ceregen is the cure. Ceregen is a Nerve Food that supplies the essential proteid—proteid, the very essence of nerve, strength and poise, British military and naval hospitals use Ceregen. Doctors recommend it. Get this food that builds new strength—2s 6d, 4s 6d, 6s 6d, 12s, at chemists. The 12s size contains eight times amount of' 2s 6d tin,

slips of breakdowns be paid time and a half, the Department’s reply was that rate and a half was paid for work dene at slips and breakdowns between 8 p.xn. and 6 a.m. Where, however, work was done during ordinary working hours the ordinary rate was paid. The Department could not agree to the men s demands. The Department could not hour week applied to the workshops, but in other branches of the service men were required to work eight hours per day, or 48 for a week’s work. The Department could not agree to a further extension of the 44-hour week, nor to guarantee a full week’s work, including overtime. It was prepared to guarantee to find work which would enable men to earn equivalent to six days’ pay at the ordinary schedule rate. The Department was opposed to alteration of the existing arrangements regarding time off for meals, and could not agree to providing meals in railway dining rooms nor to increasing the allowances to men absent from headquarters on duty. As to travelling time, the Department could not agree to any alteration, nor to the demand that ways and works men be paid wet and dry, in view of the large expenditure involved. The Department could not agree to the request for six additional days’ leave to all men of the Second Division, nor could it concede the demand that a month’s leave of absence be accorded on men remaining in the service after ten yeans’ service. The Department was not prepared to make an alteration in the direction of granting first-class passes to all members of the service or with regard to sick and accident pay, and, further, it had no power 1 0 divert any portion of railway revenue to supplement the funds of the Railway Sick Benefit Societies. The Department was opposed to the demands relative to the men having a share in the control of the railways, that they be represented on the Punishment Board, and that Promotion Boards be established. It was also noted that it was quite impracticable to get the D 3 List out at any fixed time. The question that the division barrier be abolished could not be agreed to. There must be a differentiation between those who directed and those who carried out the operations of the Department. As to lodging, the Department coulu not agree to any increase in the night allowance. Regarding shunting, the existing practice of paying men an additional rate if employed on shunting for four hours or more daily was considered equitable by the Department. Likewise the Department could not accede to the request to exempt second grade guards from taking up shunting duties when their time arrived. The Dejjartiaent was prepared to pay apprentices who gained diplomas and certificates of proficiency in connection with their trade in their own time sixpence a day, but considered it undesirable that they should absent themselves from duty during working hours. Other demands which the Department could nob accede to included extension of privilege tickets to children of employees, and (lie authorising of stationmasters to issue privilege orders. Tile Department wa-s not prepared to extend the privileges granted to hour-to-hour casuals, The Department was opposed to the demand tha-i. the age limit (50 years) for promotion be abolished, for the reason that the circumstances of all employees at isolated places were not similar to these men. The Department also could not waive the conditions, that an examination in telegraphy must be undergone by applicants desirous of transferring to the .First Division. Mr MacDonald then proceeded to call evidence ;ti amplification of some of the points he had men'ioued.

'i lii* concluded the ease both for and •Vi;.jiiict Ihc demand of the Second DiVisual. Before the Board rose, Mr Hampton e-itm-d a protest at the suggestion of •>ir Mac Donald that the Second Division y, denounced any agreement made with me Department in March last. When the last agreement was come to it was on the understanding that the men acciplod the. Department’s concessions sim])iy as an instalment, and there was nothing- to hinder their further prosecution of their claims.

Mr Mac Donald explained that he did not allege that the men had broken faith.

His Horror, m adjourning the Board tall to-morrow, intimated that if the proceedings showed signs of being very protracted, lie would submit an interim report to the Government with regard to tho question of wages.