ENGINEERS' CONGERENCE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10566, 23 February 1912, Page 6

ENGINEERS' CONGERENCE

RESOLUTIONS ARRIVED AT. (By Telegraph — I J ress Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. The annual conference of delegates from the Locomotive Engine-drivers, Firemen and Cleaners Association was continued to-day, when further resolutions wore arrived at. A motion \v;u agreed to, unanimously protest- I iug against the heavy punishments inflicted upon locomotive men. The principle of conciliation for dealing with grievances was affirmed, and it was decided to ask that a Board should lie .set up, consisting of two members representing the Association, two representing the Department, avith one of the uoneiliation Commissioners a.s chairman. .It was jtatec! during a debate, that it was no wonder that outside Unions j ■were discarding the Industrial, Conciliation and Arbitration Act,_ as the Government had advised their own employees to base nothing to do with the Act. 'ibis meant that a strike was the onlv weapon of defence for railway employees. It was generally agreed that some means ought to be provided to decide disputes with the< Department when other resources •failed. The arbitrary sy.st.cm at pre- | sent in vogue was strongly condemned •by all the delegates. 'it was decided to ask that the Superannuation Act bo amended, s<> that the -Government shall pay compensation for death, irrespective- of beneIvts under the Superannuation Act. ; .It was stated that, a:* employees i themselves .subscribed for the bene-l-iits gained under tb.e Superannuation Act, the .Government should insure its employee;; in the .sime way that outside eiiiplcyei'S. do. It was decided to- ask for long service holidays, on the same lin.es as are in vogue in most of the Australian States. It was decided that, wlion the Departmental enquiries are being held,. a representative of the Association .should be present. It was further resolved that all accident., on railways be inquired into by an impartialßcard of Trade, oil similar lines to the British Board of Trade. Jit was decided to ask that overtime rates be paid, for all time worked between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., and that double time be paid for work done over fourteen hours on Sundays. 7 It was decided that ten hours shoud be the minimum time a man should be booked oif for rest between days c.f long hours.