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CARDIFF.

EBBW VALE.

NEWPORT.

-ottdente.

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ottdente. THE ENGINE DRIVERS AND THE TAFF VALE CHAIRMAN. To the Editor of the SOUTH WALES DAILY NEWS. SIR '-In reading the report of the Taff Vale Railway, held at Bristol, on Friday, I was surprised at the remarks the chairman made concerning the engine drivers em- ployed by that company. He distinctly states that the engine drivers' wages were 7s. per day, and with overtime they made £4 and 24 4s. per week and if they granted the concessions demanded by their men, their wages would amount to 25 5s. per week. I only wish it would.; but such is not the case. The statement is put forward to pre- judice and mislead the public on the question of a reduction of the hours of labour to the general body of railway ser- vants. The facts of the case are these there are drivers who do receive 7s. per day, but with all their knowledge of arithmetic they cannot make more than t2 2s. of it, when they get it. Perhaps the chairman can they have got. a School Board in Bristol, and I should think that accounts for the superior knowledge of figures possessed by the chairman. With respect to overtime, it will be seen at a glance that a driver must, to earn the amount stated by the chairman, compress a whole fortnight into a week, and I am sure such a state of things is not desir- able on the part of the public, who wish to travel in safety. Now, sir, with respect to the audacity" of the drivers t asking for a reduction in the hours of labour, I should like to ask have any other large employers of labour, dared" to make use of such an insulting expression to their men, when they asked for and obtained the concession, which we ask for in vain. Again sir, with reference to that part of his speech about our not serving an apprenticeship, or paying a premium to learn our calling. It is something new for me to learn that we work for years as breaks- men, guards, and firemen at low wajes, and immense risks (as the accident list will show), to obtain the situa- tion of driver. I know that almost all our men think they pay a very heavy premium to obtain the desired end. And shall we be different from the commonest labourer, who works his nine hours per day, with no thought or care on his mind, while we have the care of the engine and train, besides the lives of our fellow workmen and the public on our minds; besides being exposed to all winds and weather night and day ? I have thought it my duty to reply thus feebly to the remarks of our chairman, hoping he will deem it his duty to set be public right in respect to various portions of his speech. Apologising for occupying so much of your valuable space, I remain yours Ac., A RAILWAY SLAVE.

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NEWPORT BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

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