LOCOMOTIVE MEN.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1988, 19 February 1914, Page 6

LOCOMOTIVE MEN.

(By Teleeraph—Press Association.) Christohurch, February 18. Tho • conference of the New Zealand Locomotive: Engine Drivers',. Firemen, jnd Cleaners' Association resumed tolay. .' ' It was decided to ask the Department to exempt cleaners from military training, on-account of , the nature of their work, hut that such exemption was to :Indicate in-rib'.way that those, .exempted ; wei-e' : aritv-militarists. It was contended that the irregular, erratic, and uri- : duly long hours that cleaners work render it impossible for them to conform with tho requirements of.the. Defence Act. This (it was stated) is admitted by some officers of the Railway Departmerit„:but 'they -have no,.option but to impose punishment provided for contravention of the Act or of regulations under it.'' '.In many cases cleaners and firemen, after working continuously through the night, wove asked to break their, sleep to' , attend drill, owing to a night shift impending after, drill. , - It was further held that-the dirt' and squalor of cleaners' work and tho re--versal of Nature's ' laws by turning night into day have an injurious effect on the physique of the.lads, Especially at the sensitive., age between ....boyhood Slid manhood. . '.' , ;