WAGES OF RAILWAY SERVANTS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XVI, Issue 832, 27 June 1890, Page 3

WAGES OF RAILWAY SERVANTS.

I see Mr Withy, M.H.R, in his speech at Auckland a few weeks .since, referred to the matter of the wages of railway servants. The secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, writing to the commissioners, stated: c lfc niusfc be apparent that a reduction of wages in so large a Government department will act also as a precedent in reducing wages generally throughout the colony.' Mr Withy thought railway servants should not be paid more than the fair market average rate, and further seemed to be of opinion that neither the keeping up or reduction of railway servants' wages would affect outside wages. Ido not see why the payment of railway servants should be accepted as a standard for the payment of general or outside wages, or that the raising or reduction of wages of railway servants need affect the general rate of wages. As to railway servants not being paid more thaii the regular rate of outside wages, I think railway servants' wages should be something higher than outside wages. While it is incumbent on the Government and railway commissioners to practise economy and avoid all waste of public money, it is also necessary to take care that in saving the 'bau bees' the public services aro not prejudicially affected. Railway servants are in a very responsible position, and the safety of the travelling public and the convenience of mercantile men-and dealers depends to a considerable extent on the faithful and active performance of their duties by the railway, servants and officials. No doubt railway servants should perform their duties to the best of their ability, whatever rate or wages they accept. Nevertheless the public is more likely to secure efficient service if its servants are paid such an amount that they

have no reasonable cause of complaint, and are not constantly subject to a, feeling of dissatisfaction and discori-"'" tent, I believe in liberal payment of railway servants. Their duties are important and their work is hard, and they should have good pay. The skinflint policy may be adopted to an extent which does more harm than good, involving more loss than gain.