RAILWAYMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 236, 5 October 1936, Page 9

RAILWAYMEN.

FORTY-HOUR WEEK. PATIENCE ADVOCATED. FIRST DIVISION CONCERNED. The attitude of tlie Railway Department toward the 40-liour -week for men in the first division was outlined by the general manager of the Department, Mr. G. H. Mackley, in the course of a speech at the annual reunion of the Auckland branch of the Railway Officers' Institute on Saturday night. Mr. Mackley spoke in reply to the remarks ol Mr. 111. W. Barnes, of Wellington, president of the institute. Mr. Barnes stated that the progress hoped for by the institute had not been made in connection with negotiations for the 40-hour week. It had not pressed the Department for Inauguration of the shorter week, but it telt that there should be equal treatment over the whole of the servi ,,n . Naturally the 40-liour week could not be introduced at once, but it was f elt that members of the institute who worked more than 40 hours at country stations should be treated in the same manner as others in the service who were being paid for hours they worked over 40. The advantages of continuous employment enjoyed by railway men were jcfeired to by Mr. Mackley in making his reply. He quotrd figuitrt to show the rise in wages since 1911. ''Introducing the 40-hour week is a big task and will cost £289,000 tni" year, in addition to £107,000 tor wage 'est.orations," lie said. It had never been understood that the 40-hour week was to be introduced into any Department in the first year of the Government's tenure of office. Although the first division had not received it completely they could be assured that they were getting it as quickly as possible. , The taking on of 100 cadets had been unfortunate in some ways. Some had taken on other employment and others had failed to pass the medical examination. Of the '3000 men in the first division 1800 were now enjoying a 40liour week, or less. In comparison with the second division, lirst division men enjoyed double the annual leave, sick pay and other privileges. The fact that second division men were paid on an hourly basis was also to be considered. They were not being; paid overtime for hours worked over 40, but only for actual time worked. The institute's representatives had been asked to return in six months' time. Mr. Mackley asked them to be patient ana said that lie was sure that they were losing nothing meantime.