ANOTHER RAILWAY TROUBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1921, Page 4

ANOTHER RAILWAY TROUBLE.

Alleged victimisation appears to be causing considerable trouble at the pre-sent-time, the latest phase having developed among the locomotive men on the Dunedin branch of the railways,

with the result that a strike is threatened. There is no question as to the facts of the case, which were the subject of an official inquiry, whereat the driver of an engine was ordered to be reduced for six months to the rank of fireman, by way of punishment for starting a train when the semaphore stood at danger. It happened, fortunately, that the public were not endangered, but, as Mr. Massey has pointed out, the breach of rules was too serious to be passed over, and on this point there should be a consensus of opinion The driver in question has the right of taking his case to the Appeal Board also of appealing to the General Manager or the Minister, so that the threat of a strike means resorting to direct action instead of taking constitutional means for the redress of a grievance The safety of the public is of paramount importance, and the drivers are quite aware that punishment follows breach of rules. No doubt the railwaymen concerned have been influenced in making their thleat by what happened at Kaitangata, but there is a vast difference between the two cases. At all events the men have been warned by Mr? Massey that the rsponsibility for anything that takes place rests with them, and in this he will be generally supported by the public. The time has arrived to make a firm stand for constitutional methods as opposed to direct action, and the Dunedin railwaymen will find ic to their advantage to at least submit the case to the higher authorities before talking of further action. Tc threaten a strike will certainly not tend to leniency towards the driver, nor will

it enlist the sympathy of the public Whether or not the punishment is too severe is entirely a matter for review and not for unjustifiable reprisals on the innocent public by holding up the train service.