CARE FOR THE EMPLOYEE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 6, 8 January 1934, Page 6

CARE FOR THE EMPLOYEE.

(To tie Editor.)

I note that "Investor" quotes the abnormal rise in British railway stock as a proof of trade recovery. An earlier illustration -was published in your issue of the 16th ultimo, vido an English cable regarding increased revenue of the London Passenger Transport Board and the board's laudatory decision, to increase the weekly wage 3 and length of holidays on full pay to their 40,000 busmen. It i«s to be trusted that the railways take similar action, I recently received a communication from the head of a department of the- London, Midland and 'Scottish Kaihvay, which is a further illustration of the consideration given employees by local bodies and the Government in Great Britain. My correspondent says, inter alia: "At the present time, owing to the result of the amalgamation of the railways in England and Scotland into four groups, there is on every railway company a great number both of redundant clerks and wages staff, and theec under the terms of the 1921 Railway Act cannot be got rid of . . ." except on reaching tho retiring age or by death. This is an obvious illustration of the fact that Britain has and does -place tho welfare of the human being before that of profit. In effect, the Stat© said: "You railway people desire to combine to maintain your dividends; very well, we have no objection, but it ehall not be at the expense of your human element." Comparisons are, of course, odious, yet one cannot help feeling that a little more of this spirit would not come amiss in other corners of the Empire—but perhaps it is that theother corners "lag behind." BONNE FOI.