RAILWAY SERVICE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17112, 6 April 1921, Page 6

RAILWAY SERVICE.

LOOO. MEN DISSATISFIED. It would appear that trouble is again brewing in the railway service. There being reason to believe that a conference of the Grand Gouneil will bo held in "Wellington at ohort notice, a meeting of the local branch of the Locomotive Engine-drivers', Firemen, and Cleaners' Association was coiled tot yesterday (says Monday's "Southland Times"). ,';■;' Tlie meeting, so far as can be learned, decided to instruct the local Grant?. Councillor to act in accordance witfi' the polloy, that would bring about the administration of the recent agreement as interpreted by the E.F.C.A. Discussing the position with a "Time* 1 ' representative, ft prominent member bf the Association offered the opinion that the Council meeting was being called because it was not considered that the agreement was.being administeredjW the men understood it would be. Too vexed question of standing time, appeared to be the main bone of contention. The General Manager had promised that the system of signing a man off while, his engine was standing, and theh bringing him on some hours later to run it again, would be practically abolished, but apparently the abolition had not taken place. Generally, she announced, there was considerable oil* content over the failure,of the Department to put some of the features of the: agreement into practice in a way that was fair. "I cannot say anything committal, of course,''.ho remarked," hut the air is by no means- clear."