RAILWAYS AND DEFENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 199, 20 February 1914, Page 6

RAILWAYS AND DEFENCE.

CLEANERS CLAIM EXEMPTION" FROM DRILL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. ' Christchureh, Wednesday. Tlie conference of the New Zealand Locomotive Engine-drivers', Firemen's and Cleaners' Association resumed to-, day. It was decided to ask the Department to exempt cleaners from military training on account of the nature of their work, hut such exemption to indicate in no way that those exempted are anti-militarists. It was contended that tlie irregular, erratic and unduly long hours that cleaners work rendered it impossible for them to conform to the requirements of the De- ' fence Act. In many cases cleaners and I firemen, after working contiguously through the night, are asked to break their sleep to attend drill. To call up,"ll cleaners and firemen to atttmd drill is u distinct hardship, and it is a physical impossibility for them to conform to the rcqurements of the Defence Act and 'to comply with the erratic shifts tlia men are called to work. It is further ■held that the dirt and squalor of the cleaners' work and the reversal of Nature's laws by turning night into day , have an injurious effect on the physique , of the liuls, especilly at the sensitive age between boyhood and manhood, and to break into a fitful day slumber to attend drill, it was contended, amdunted to absolute persecution. The conference was unanimous in its decision to represent tlie hardships of locomotive and to apply to the Railway J Department for exemption, or at least to have such arrangements made as will mitigate the hardships complained of. HIGHER WAGES WANTED. Palmerston N., Thursday. A resolution was passed by the local locomotive men impressing upon the i grand council now in conference Hie need for speedy and persistent agitation on behalf of the locomotive men for a substantial increase in wages, especially for firemen, in view of the fact that their • duties had been made doubly arduous since the. recent industrial crisis through the inferior coal im- ■ ported, also considering that ontsida employers saw fit to reward men who reclamed loyal during the crisis, and, as the loyalty of the locomotive men was one of the main factors in breaking 1 the strike, it would now be a fitting op- ■ portunity for the Government to show 'its appreciation by a substantial 111'crease in wages. In the event of a deadlock in this matter it is suggested that a vote he taken whether the loco- : motive men shall come under the Arbitration Act.