THE RAILWAYS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18180, 17 September 1924, Page 10

THE RAILWAYS.

OFFICERS' SALARIES.

AN AMENDING BILL.

(SFEcra. to "m run.")

WELLINGTON, Sepember 16,

The Government Railways Amendment Bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by GovernorGeneral's Message and read a first time.

The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Wilford) asked if the Bill dealt with the recommendations of the Commission which was set up to report, or with the question of classification.

The Hon. J. G. Coates said that in the case of the railway service matters of pay and classification had to be dealt with by Act of Parliament, aad this Bill provided for reclassification by Order-in-Council. He knew this was a contentious matter, and would require .some discussion. The reason for the clause was that it would make for quickness and ease in administration. As things stood at present, if the General Manager retired, it would be about three years before the man who took his place would get his Balary unless the matter were brought before Parliament; a circumstance which applied generally to the administrative staff. The idea was that the man who filled the position should draw the salary as soon as he had satisfied those in control that he would fill the position satisfactorily. The Bill also covered the wider question of reclassification.

Mr Wilford asked if it applied to both reducing and increasing. The Minister said it did. Any increases that had been granted to railway employees had to be ratified by parliament. A portion of the Bill provided for the fixing of scales of salary, and another for the classification of the permanent staff.

RAILWAY BOARD'S PROPOSALS. DISCUSSED AT ADDINGTON.

In connexion with the recommendations of the Railway Wages Board regarding the secret ballot on i;he alternative proposals of a 44 or a 48-hour week, a meeting of the employees at the Addington workshops was held at the lunch-hour yesterday. The men were addressed by Mr M. J. O 'Connor, a member of the executive of the A.S.B.S.

Mr O'Connor, dealing with the question of the .44 or 48-hour week, Baid there was a big principle involved and personally he would advocate the 44hour week. If every man were, true to himself and to the principles which had been laid down in the Dominion, he would vote for the 44-hour week. They*" should not think of the little extra money which would be gained by the continuance of the 48-hour week, but of conditions in the future, and what would happen in a few years' time if the 48-hour week were adopted by the men. Arrangements would be made, he stated, to hold a meeting of members before the; ballot was taken, and it was hoped that the secretary of the A.S.B.S. would be able to be present on that occasion to explain the matter more* fully. He anticipated that the ballot would be taken before the end of the present month. Dealing with the other recommendations of the Board, Mr O'Connor said that *with regard to work done on statutory holidays the men would have the choice of working at ordinary rates of pay and having a day added to their annual leave, or of working at double rates with a minimum of six hours and with no day added to their annual leave. One of the biggest concessions secured from the Board waa with regard to overtime. In the past overtime had been reckoned on rate and a quarter on 44-48 th of the schedule rates of pay. This meant that the railway service had the lowest overtime rates of any industry or award, but it was now recommended that time and a half on full schedule rates of pay be given. He also dealt with the Board's recommendations regarding charges of neglect of duty, privilege tickets, and the tests set second division candidates who wished to qualify for the first division.