CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 95, 23 April 1931, Page 8

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

RAILWAY CONTROL BOARD. CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENTS. Members of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce met this morning, Mr. A. M. Seaman presiding. The action of the executive in writing to the Prime Minister congratulating him on the introduction of the principle of control of the railways by a nonpolitical board', was confirmed. The chairman mentioned that since the dispatch of the letter the proposal had been altered. Mr. Turner: It seems to me that the number of members of the board has been increased from three to five, so as to pacify all sections of the House. If the railways are to be directed by a board we want the very best men. " It looks to me as if the Government has reduced the fees in order to increase the number, and I think it is a retrograde step. It was reported that the executive had written to the Prime Minister inquiring whether the policy of the Government in connection with retirements involves the filling of vacated positions by officers who will remain at a lower grade than the officers displaced, thereby effecting a financial saving, or whether the sole savings looked for are in reduction of "the personnel among the lower grades. If the latter was the case the Prime Minister was to be asked whether taking into account the extra drain on the superannuation fund there would ultimately be an increased drain on the Consolidated Fund. No reply has yet been received.