RAILWAY ELIGIBLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 June 1917, Page 2

RAILWAY ELIGIBLES.

A PECULIAR STATE OF THINGS. (From Our Own Correspondent). Wellington, June 25. When the "cut" in the railway services was made the Railway Department undertook to release 130 ballotted men at once and an additional draft subsequently. The Assistant-general Manager explained that he was prepared to regard the 150 men as the Department's May draft. When these men had 'been taken and the necessary transfers had been made to fill vacancies, he would release another batch, but first the Defence authorities must take the May men. He handed the Defence officers a list of 200 ballotted railwaymen, the margin being intended to provide for rejections, and asked that he should be informed promptly what men ; were to be taken into the forces. It is a strange fact that up to the present time, though about six weeks have elapsed, the Defence authorities have not been able to su,pply the Railway Department with the names of 150 railwaymen who are to- be taken into camp. The medical examinations have been delayed, and when men have been passed they have not been taken into camp at once, The result is that the Railways Department retains in its services, afid on ila pay-roll, men it is prepared to release for the army. The Department is losing money and in the absence of definite information as to the men who are wanted by the Defence Department it cannot make any arrangements for a second draft. The Assistant-General Manager haß been asked by one of the military representatives when his second draft will be available. His reply is that-lit can do nothing more until the first draft is taken and the names of the accepted men are supplied to him. He state. that he has asked for these namefl am has so far failed to get them.