LOCOMOTIVE MEN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1986, 17 February 1914, Page 4

LOCOMOTIVE MEN.

■'. C 8.7 Teleeranli.—Press Association.! V Chrlstohurpll, February 16 Tire conference of New Zealand Locomotive Engine Drivers', Firemen's, and Cleaners' Association was resumed today. ■ :.-,'■: The report supplied stated that the brand : Council Ijacl considered the present system of compulsorv retirement from, the superannuation fund.. TJpon retiring from tho Service a distinct hardship, was'inflicted inasmuch as it •deleted the benefits. It amounted to a. punishment of members concerned Tiie council hold that' tho insurance- fund should bo governed by commercial principles, and a contributor, once admitted, should have tho option of .continuing ms contributions until his policy oxpired. At present members retiring at their own option, or by direction, only received the actual money which they had paid m, minus interest. It ,wa's a matter of speculation whether the fund would benefit the contributor, for, at the last moment, after forty years of service, misadventure might deprive a member from participation in the benefits. The council required a more equitable control, and a definite benefit clause independent of the vagaries of the Service.

■A member engaged on the ccuncil was dissatisfied with the present medical examination for Departmental requirements, and held that the member interested should'have tho'choice of a doctor so as to bo in line with the present practice of the Department in nom■inatmg the medical officer whom they required. It was understood that the Department would pay for all certificates required to detect a malingerer, but in contravention of the wording of the Act, the Department: asked the employee to carry a, double burden oF expense. In view of the recent Aisgill disaster being attributed to tho use of inferior ■coal, thus unduly harrassing the ongino crew in the more important matter of attending to tho public safety, and the fact that improvement is urgently needed in the standard of coal supplied to tho Now Zealand Government railways, the council wore making special representations to the Department to remove "the trouble, and sio avert a looming danger. It was urged that, for public safety, there must'be adequate'boiler'..power, with suitable coal. The. practico of 'supplying, noko,. in'substitution for,-coal, at Frankton, was causing extreme anxiety to tho men.

Alterations to the constitution and rules were considered, and an address was delivered by Hiss Mitchell, of the Social Democratic party.