LOCOMOTIVE MEN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1984, 14 February 1914, Page 6

LOCOMOTIVE MEN.

——$ ' COXtfEREXCE & REQUIREMENTS:. (B.r Toleffraph.—Pr«ss AstociaUon.l _ Christchurch, February 13. Jhe Oonferenco of the Now 'Zealand ' -Locomotive Engine-drivers', . Firemen, ' and Cleaners' Association resumed today, j . I'lie grand council reviewed the unsat~ lsfactorv computation of standing tirno. lhreo hours' filloivfiiicc wove givc.ii .niijn ■sftlit to a terminal or sub-termiiial station tliero to wait, till tire liour when •tiro ciigi.no is. further required. 'For a time there has been a, .tendency tci iiirriugo oil the allowance so as to exeludo payment. for certain work indispensable to the safe rnnni/ig of tile engine. Where no authorised mail is in charge it is neeessary (and is held So by the Sopartnient) . that tho engine crow' must stand by their engine. It j's now asked that the men should bo paid for the full period for which they are required, bv the Department. .Tho Question of full civil and political rights _ for those in tho Public Sorvice Was discussed; and ft was decided to mako further representation's witji a view of renjovjiig' tlie barrier that interferes with tne political life of the public scr* vant. The question of the better protection of engine crews from weather and from the arnaghts which are inseparable fco.m the air displacement caused by a moving . tpdjv was discussed, It was .also cie> tided to ask for a rearrangement' qf cab aiid-seating accomino.daition with avici? to protecting tho men from chills. It_v;as decided to recommend the immediate drafting of members into highcr percentages when vacancies occiir. : At present appointments are only niailo annually, and members in close prnxiw. itv at that date must- remain in tho lower grade for another yeast.. The Department is to be recommended ,: that w.heji, ipeitir jire flsent away ovcr-'n night they-shallihiive accaiivmodatian at boardingliouscs. in lieu .of sleeping rail's as is'the present practice-. In view of the increased hotel tariff, J't was decided to ask tliat local men's lodging allow- , aiiee be brought into'line with'tile gllowani e a t present made to member? of Division I. It was recommended: "That a scale of . long-service holidays, as in" vogue in • the Australian States, bo .instituted." It was decided to recommend, that the-! period of service, at present fixed at 10 .Tears, before receiving a first-class pass and tho maximum of holidays, be ' reduced to five rears. It was decided to draw tho attention of the Department to tho unsuitabilit.y of certain coal as supplied for locomotives:. It was decided to recommend that a!- . teratic.u;s be made to the constitution of tho Superannuation Board to give elective representation to each Department of the Public Service whose members contribute to the fund.