INADEQUACY OF STAFF

Chronicle (Levin), 10 April 1946, Page 7

INADEQUACY OF STAFF

RAILWAYS LOCOMOTIVE BRANCH DUNEDIN, April 9. Some controversy has receutly taken place regarding the quantity and qual ity of the coal available to the railways, but another aspect of the question — the'adequacy of the present stafiing of the locomotive branch — is preseuted in the following statement which was issued today by the Dunedin branch of the New Zealand Enginedrivers', Fire lueii's and Uleaners' Association: • " Whilst this branch does not wisli to take part in the coal controversy between the Minister of Railways (Hon. R. -Semple) and Mr. James Ward, ot Buller, we desire that the public shouid be informed on another angle of the railway situation that has not been given any consideration. We appreciate Mr. Semple 's laudatory reference to the patience and loyalty of loco. men, but is the Minister fully acquainted with the demands that are being made on those men? Even with the present uncertain coal stocks, the footplate men are working excessive hours, and huge reserves of stored coal would not ailow of any further demand on the loco. men unless the motto of 'safetv and comfort' is to be- abandoned.

'"We speak for the Otago section only, but a long story could be tola ot the huge accumulation of unobtainabie .eave, six and even seven-day weeks, some shifts extending into 12 or 14 hours without a sit-down meal and at all hours of the day and night, and admittedly bad coal, etc., but it will suffice to say that the average footplate man's week is round 55 hours, and to see a public statement that the department is most anxious to run a full service everywhcre 'is a distinct sliock. "When we see most workers returning to AO or 44 hours a week after the strenuous war period, we claim to be human beings, just like other workers, and we earnestly suggest to the Minis ter that he shouid immediately investi gate the staff situation, when he will Tealise that all the coal in the world will not solve the problem, and a public statenient of the true situation shouid counteract the impression conveyed that, if the miners would produce enough coal, a full railway service could be restored. "We repeat that any further demand 011 the footplate man is out of the question, without having serious repercus sions and without impairing the desired standard of alertness and efficiency re nnired of the men who run the trains.