RAILWAY TROUBLE

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1921, Page 3

RAILWAY TROUBLE

A DRIVER’S PUNISHMENT. MEMBERS THREAT TO STRIKE. BY TELKOBAM—TRESS ASSN., COPYIIIOHT. DUNEDIN, February 7. The punishment imposed «n a driver, has caused trouble among members of the locomotive branch of the railway service and a strike is threatened. It was charged against a driver that ho started a train from Port Chalmers when the starting signal had not been given by the semaphore in the station yard; that no question of endangering the public was involved in the starting of the train. Moreover, the guard of the train had given the starting whistle to the driver . As.a result of an official inquiry it is stated the stationmaster at Port Chalmers was severely reprimanded and the signalman and a shunter each fined £1 and the guard exonerated. In the case of the driver, the decision of the Punishment Board was that he should be reduced for six months to the rank of fireman. ‘

A special meeting yesterday of the local branch of the E.F.C.A., passed a resolution that unless, our executive gets Driver Barclay reinstated as a driver, we intend in a body to cease work at mid-night on Wednesday as a protest against the drastic punishment dealt out to this member. The General Secretary of the E.F.C.A. Minister of Railways and the General Manager have been advised.