RAILWAYMEN AND THE WAR.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1917, Page 1

RAILWAYMEN AND THE WAR.

a lia:< ;ed depa ktmenta i. feud. WELLINGTON November 6. I Although the Second Division ballots have commenced the Defence Department lias not yet taken nearly all the men already called up belonging to the railway service. These men were not granted exemption, but the cases of the biggest batch of railwaym.cn for which appeal was made by the Department were adjourned sine die on an undertaking given by the Railway Department. that they would release a certain proportion of the men called as soon as arrangements could be made to do without them in the service, .'tuns time later a ballot Vas taken in the Railway Department to determine which of the men called up should go out of the service and into camp. No announcement lias been" made as to the taking of any other ballot of this kind, and in the meantime many more ratlwaymen have been called by the milii tary service ballots. Tbe position is that there, are hundreds of men Tielonging to the First Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve now in tlm railway service waiting to be medically examined.

It was suggested at a deputation of members of Parliament which waited on Ministers regarding the restoraton of suburban trains that there was a feud between the Defence Department and the Railway Department, and it is still being said that the- Railway Department is not making it easy for the Defence people to take railwaymen into camp.