RAILWAY SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 42, 13 November 1907, Page 5

RAILWAY SERVICE.

NEW CLASSIFICATION BILL. ADVERSE CRITICISM. (BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Wanganui, Novombor 11. Tho railway mon along this section are thoroughly disgusted with the now Classification Bill. Those.in tho lower grades of tho clerical division are particularly irate, and unhesitatingly conclomn tho measure. "It gives us absolutely nothing," sajd an officer. He bitterly criticised what ho termed tho perpetuation of unfair distinctions made between railway employees and those of similar grades in the post and telegraph department.

" What may bo described as an indignation meeting was held there yesterday, and was attended by representatives of all clerical grades. At that meeting the Bill was unanimously condemned, and the opinion was expressed that the Minister would have 'made a much more equitable job of it had he sought for guidanco from the men most concerned instead of from the few highly-paid officials at the head of affairs. The mon say that all they want is to bo put on a:i equality with the officers of the post and telegraph service. It .was pointed out, as an instance of the anomalies which the now Bill perpetuates, that while an officer in the lowest grado of tho post and telegraph! secures a salary of £220 in twelve years, it would take a railway officer of the samd rank sixteen years to reach tho same salary. The postal grade runs up to £220 in twelve years,;while the,railway grade only reaches £200 in the same time, and, allowingfor three years' -stop at the head of the grado, many iftQii have to wait six or seven years beforc\ moving' on. The railway man is penalised to the extent of £70 or £80 beforo he reaches his £220. Judging by opinions expressed by 'the officers of the clerical division, they' would' much prefer to see tho Bill dropped altogether for tho present, in order that the whole question might be more fully considered during the recess.