RAILWAY ELIGIBLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1917, Page 2

RAILWAY ELIGIBLES.

STATEMENT BY MR. HERRIES. By Telegraph—Press Association Wellington, June 25. In a statement the Minister of Railways says;— The Defence Department has no quarrel with the Railway Department, but is honestly and fairly endeavouring to assist that department in providing men of the First Division for the front, without serious damage j to the Railway system, before the Sec. ond Division is called on to serve. Tft«, Railway Department is not curtailing trains for the pleasure of annoying people; it is not against racing; it is not dropping Sunday trains from Sabbatarian principles—all these things are being done because it is thought right by the Cabinet and by the department that the greatest State industry should set an example to all other industries, essential and otherwise, and releaee every possible man that it can, even if by doing so it may cause inconvenience and, in some instance, loss.

The department has already released for military purposes 5452 railwayinen and is liable to still further demands on the remainder. A careful .review of the train services was made by the department and a time-table was introduced with the object of ultimately releasing 1000 men for military purposes. The first lot of 150 has already been under offer to the Defence Department since May 10. When this lot has been released a further lot will be offered, and so on, till the maximum number of spare men has been released. Owing to inability to obtain supplies of material from abroad the shortening of workshops hands is unavoidable and obviously the department is adopting the proper and only course in arranging to pay off, first, the emergency casuals and, next, the term casuab.